Two matches, three goals – the world is smiling at Mario Gomez. The FC Bayern Munich forward can take much of the credit for Germany’s perfect start to ‘Mission 2012.’ On the day after the Mannschaft’s 2-1 win over the Netherlands, Gomez met DFB.de writer Steffen Lüdeke to talk about his goals and ambitions at the Euros in Poland and Ukraine.
team.dfb.de: Mario, congrats on your goals and the team’s win against the Dutch. Can you recount the decisive moments for us?
Mario Gomez: Well, both occasions were just the kind of situation we centre-forwards lie in wait for. These days, life’s anything but easy for classic target men, because usually you’re facing two centre-backs and you’re hovering in the space somewhere between them, trying to run into space and exploit that gap. Twice last night, Bastian found that gap for me, brilliantly passing the ball right down the channel. The first goal? I receive the pass, turn in one movement, briefly look up what the keeper was doing and slot the ball to his right. And right before the second goal the ball comes down the channel, at a pretty acute angle, on my first touch I look up, realise that maybe if I hit it high it might go in at the far post...and in it went!
team.dfb.de: Wasn’t it a bit like in the old Bayern days, when Bastian Schweinsteiger was employed in the playmaker position?
Gomez: Yes, we joked about that over breakfast, like ‘those were the days!’ Bastian’s a right genius sometimes, he knows how to read a game and instinctively plays these through balls. In fact, I think he should do that much more often… (laughs). I always tell him: 'You know where I am – right between the centre-backs.' Quite often, when defenders see opposing midfielders run at them feinting a shot, they try to block the shot, leaving me unmarked for a second or two. That’s the moment every forward is waiting for. And Bastian set me up with two great assists.
team.dfb.de: When you scored, what went through your head?
Gomez: I know that on TV my celebrations looked rather subdued and some people have construed this to be 'Gomez’s reaction to the criticism levelled at him before the game', but that’s nonsense. The truth is I was just about to take off, clench my fist and let it all out, but then I realised I was facing this huge orange wall of Dutch fans – which is why I turned away to quietly celebrate with my team-mates. And as they were still there when I scored again, I thought I’d better not provoke them in any way by celebrating right in front of them.
team.dfb.de: When did the coach tell you that you’d be in the starting line-up for the Netherlands game, too?
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Two matches, three goals – the world is smiling at Mario Gomez. The FC Bayern Munich forward can take much of the credit for Germany’s perfect start to ‘Mission 2012.’ On the day after the Mannschaft’s 2-1 win over the Netherlands, Gomez met DFB.de writer Steffen Lüdeke to talk about his goals and ambitions at the Euros in Poland and Ukraine.
team.dfb.de: Mario, congrats on your goals and the team’s win against the Dutch. Can you recount the decisive moments for us?
Mario Gomez: Well, both occasions were just the kind of situation we centre-forwards lie in wait for. These days, life’s anything but easy for classic target men, because usually you’re facing two centre-backs and you’re hovering in the space somewhere between them, trying to run into space and exploit that gap. Twice last night, Bastian found that gap for me, brilliantly passing the ball right down the channel. The first goal? I receive the pass, turn in one movement, briefly look up what the keeper was doing and slot the ball to his right. And right before the second goal the ball comes down the channel, at a pretty acute angle, on my first touch I look up, realise that maybe if I hit it high it might go in at the far post...and in it went!
team.dfb.de: Wasn’t it a bit like in the old Bayern days, when Bastian Schweinsteiger was employed in the playmaker position?
Gomez: Yes, we joked about that over breakfast, like ‘those were the days!’ Bastian’s a right genius sometimes, he knows how to read a game and instinctively plays these through balls. In fact, I think he should do that much more often… (laughs). I always tell him: 'You know where I am – right between the centre-backs.' Quite often, when defenders see opposing midfielders run at them feinting a shot, they try to block the shot, leaving me unmarked for a second or two. That’s the moment every forward is waiting for. And Bastian set me up with two great assists.
team.dfb.de: When you scored, what went through your head?
Gomez: I know that on TV my celebrations looked rather subdued and some people have construed this to be 'Gomez’s reaction to the criticism levelled at him before the game', but that’s nonsense. The truth is I was just about to take off, clench my fist and let it all out, but then I realised I was facing this huge orange wall of Dutch fans – which is why I turned away to quietly celebrate with my team-mates. And as they were still there when I scored again, I thought I’d better not provoke them in any way by celebrating right in front of them.
team.dfb.de: When did the coach tell you that you’d be in the starting line-up for the Netherlands game, too?
Gomez: At the team meeting. But even before, I was pretty sure I’d be in. After the Portugal match, Joachim Löw took me aside and we analysed the game together, He told me that contrary to what was publicly said by some people, he felt that I had worked very hard, tracking back to help out in defence, and being in the right spot at the right point in time. So obviously, the coach did not see any reason why he should leave me out.
team.dfb.de: This time you heard it in the team meeting. And what is the usual procedure? The coach comes up and says, ‘you’re in,’ and then you ask him, ‘why’?
Gomez: (laughs) No, of course I don’t! A couple of days before the Portugal game, the coach told me about his decision, how much he appreciated my commitment and work rate over the last few years, and that he was confident I would deliver. I told him I was happy to hear that, and that I’d do everything to repay his confidence.
team.dfb.de: Any pro-Gomez decision has an impact on Miro Klose. Do you two talk about that?
Gomez: No. Actually, it’s been like this since 2007. In the beginning, we were Germany’s striking duo, then the coach switched to a 4-3-3 formation, which basically leaves room for one centre-forward only. I absolutely know how Miro must feel, because I’ve been in exactly his position many times, watching from the sidelines. We’re both professionals who love the game too much to resign ourselves to a place on the subs’ bench. On the other hand, this kind of health competition is good for the team, it elicits top performances from both of us.
team.dfb.de: Miro’s strength of character sees him celebrating your goals, in fact often he’s the first to congratulate you. Can you describe your personal relationship?
Gomez: When I’m on the pitch, there is really no reason for Miro to be sulking or annoyed in any way, because he knows I give my all, while I know he’d do the same. As I said – we’re professionals, we present ourselves in training and either of us tries to make it as hard as possible for the coach to choose. Whenever I don’t play, I support him – and vice versa. This is a team sport, after all. Obviously, saying 'there’s more to a team than just 11 players' is easy when you’re one of them. But that kind of spirit is at the heart of our team. I was at the receiving end in 2010, and in situations like these there are always two options – you can either give up and go all morose. Or you can say, 'right, this tournament is all about our team being successful, so work hard in training, help keep standards high, subordinate yourself to the greater whole, and support the team-mate whose place you want.'
team.dfb.de: You said your objective was to become European champion; how important are personal plaudits for you as you’re well on course to become EURO 2012 top scorer…
Gomez: When I first heard I was in the squad, my goal was to play a good tournament. At EURO 2008 I was unlucky, at the 2010 World Cup I wasn’t really given the chance and, frankly, was not fit enough, either. Now I‘m as fit as can be, and at the Euros I want to confirm my good performances over the last two years. Which is what I did in the last two matches. But we haven’t achieved anything yet! Nothing that’s happened so far will have the slightest relevance if we have to fly home after the quarter-finals. I want this team to succeed, get as far as possible in the tournament. That’s my goal, everything else will come by itself.
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team.dfb.de: Roughly one year ago, you said your goal was to score, with some regularity, for the national team. You wanted fans to say: ‘it was Gomez who turned that match around!’
Gomez: That’s true, but I hope I’ve moved beyond that point. I have scored 12 goals in as many matches. In early 2011 I asked myself just what I wanted when playing for Germany – be weighed down and put pressure on myself, or look forward to games just like everybody else. The main thing was to just forget trying ever so hard to win people over. I simply told myself to play my game, give it my best shot, and take things from there. And little by little, the fun, if not to say the thrill of playing came back.
team.dfb.de: Two matches, two wins, against World Cup runners-up the Netherlands and Portugal who are in 10th place on the FIFA world ranking. A sign of the quality at this European Championship?
Gomez: Absolutely. After all, Portugal and the Netherlands are still among the favouites to win the title. Both matches were really intense. With the Dutch, you have a feeling that they can always conjure up a goal from nowhere. But isn’t it crazy? We’ve won two out of three games and still can’t be 100 percent sure to proceed to the next round. That definitely speaks for the high level of the teams here, and for a very balanced competition.
team.dfb.de: Would you say it’s not altogether bad for Germany to have to stay focussed against Denmark?
Gomez: We know we need one more point, and we want to win the final group match, too. I think it’s good we can’t just lean back and take it easy. The maximum number of games at the championship is six – three at the group stage, and hopefully another three at the knock-out stages. It’s no problem for us to go full steam ahead in six matches. There’ll be loads of time to go on holiday later.
