Julian Draxler: "We're ready and up for it"

At just 20 Julian Draxler is still young, but he has already made 11 international appearances and even captained his country once. The versatile forward is the undisputed star at his club Schalke and is now augmenting his already impressive reservoir of experience with a maiden World Cup as a member of the 23-strong Germany squad in Brazil. He sat down with DFB.de reporter Steffen Lüdeke in Campo Bahia for a chat about his rapid ascent through the footballing ranks.

DFB.de: Julian, how pleased are you about the national coach calling Matthias Ginter into his final World Cup squad?

Julian Draxler: I know what you're getting at. It's my age…

DFB.de: That's right. Ginter is even younger than you.

Draxler: It's nice to be rid of the "youngest player" label to be honest, although I'm not sure many people here know he's younger than me. He's very calm and composed, and doesn't come across as particularly young. I'm afraid quite a lot of people still think I'm the youngest (laughs).

DFB.de: There are hardly any "youngest ever" records you don't hold. You added another one in Hamburg recently when you became the youngest-ever captain of the senior national team.

Draxler: It was a massive honour, although I'm well aware that nearly all the established players weren't available. We were more or less a U-21 team. But I was still very proud that the coach chose me to wear the armband. It shows he has faith in me, and for me personally it was nice to have confirmation of that.

DFB.de: After the game in Hamburg you spent ten days at the training camp in South Tyrol. Just leaving aside the terrible accident for a moment, how was it?

Draxler: I had several lows during my season with Schalke. I had a couple of injuries, but I was also simply off-form as well. So I was doubly pleased about the time we spent in South Tyrol. I was able to convince the coach that I'm ready and well-prepared and that he can rely on me. We got through a lot of great work as a team, and every individual put in a shift, myself included.

DFB.de: You've talked about a slump in form. How did you manage to get back into shape?

Draxler: I started by questioning a few things. It's not a simple process. I was basically on an upward curve for a relatively long time. It was still going really well for me the previous season, so it's hard to accept the need to make a few changes. But there came a point when I recognised I needed a new direction. I did it by working even harder, I focused 100 percent on football and got rid of everything that had been distracting me. I thought long and hard about it and made tweaks in a few specific places. I regained my form in the second half of the season and delivered the goods again at just the right time in the last few matches.

DFB.de: In the media debate after the training camp yours was one of the names mentioned when it came to speculation about who might not make the final squad. Were you aware of that? Did it matter to you?

Draxler: I certainly picked it up, although as a rule I don't read the papers very often. But you can't really escape finding out what’s being discussed when you're in the national team. I can't say I was exactly delighted, but it wasn't a burden or anything. At the end of the day it wasn't about winning over the media, I had to convince the coach. Fortunately I've done that. I gave it my all in training and at the end of the day I’ve earned my reward.

DFB.de: You were first included in the Germany setup as part of the pre-tournament training camp prior to Euro 2012, but on that occasion you didn't make the final squad. It would have been much more disappointing not to do so this time, wouldn't it?

Draxler: Definitely. Just making the preliminary squad last time was huge for me personally. I was already ambitious, but realistic too. I turned up for the pre-tournament programme this time with higher hopes. Despite my patchy season I set myself the target of training so convincingly well the coach couldn't possibly ignore me.

DFB.de: You've certainly succeeded in that respect. Before the team arrived and now here in Brazil, plenty of observers reckon you’re training with a new zest that reminds them of the Draxler of old. You seem to be in good shape. Would you agree with that?

Draxler: I'm hardly likely to say no (laughs). But it's true that I'm feeling much better and I'm fully fit again after injury. I've hauled myself out of a difficult situation and my confidence is soaring again. I'm happy and grateful for the chance to be here. But it's not happened by accident and no-one's given me a free ride. I've earned the chance to experience the World Cup through sheer hard work.

DFB.de: The focus out here is obviously on football, with the daily schedule dominated by training, team talks and treatment. But it can't possibly only be football. How are you spending your leisure time?

Draxler: I've settled well into the group here now. I don't just get on with my Schalke team-mate Benni Höwedes, it's basically going well with everyone. We’re really enjoying it together, we sit and chat a lot. I’ve certainly not been bored yet.

DFB.de: Have you brought any books with you?

Draxler: I have, including David Beckham's biography. I've actually already read it, but it can't hurt to read it again.

DFB.de: Haven’t you brought the novel written by your cousin Markus Draxler?

Draxler: No, I'm already finished with that. I was surprised he'd written such a good book. I didn't think he had it in him to be honest, but it's turned out a really good read. And if I'm allowed a little free plug at this point, I recommend the book to everyone.

DFB.de: So we should probably mention the title of the book, even though your cousin didn't quite get it right.

Draxler: It's called "Der Himmel ist blau" ("The Sky is Blue"). What's wrong with that?

DFB.de: You play for Schalke, so shouldn't it be called "The Sky is Royal Blue"?

Draxler: Right… but it would have been meaningless to anyone who's not a football fan…

DFB.de: Are you jealous of his writing ability?

Draxler: It's not that I can't write. I did go to school you know (laughs). But yes, I don't believe there's a book in me, and certainly not a novel. I think it's good to see the talent spread around, however. I'm delighted I'm Draxler the player and not Draxler the author.

DFB.de: You've been in Brazil for four days now. The talk has largely been about the climate and what a contrast it is. How far have you already got used to local conditions?

Draxler: It was a bit of a shock on the first day, but you acclimatise better and better with every training session. It's certainly a lot better already, and we still have a couple of days before our first match. I'm certain we won't have a problem with the temperatures next Monday.

DFB.de: The squad observed a simulated matchday schedule on Wednesday with training in the midday heat. The simulation included a matchday nutrition plan, including a warm breakfast. So what did you eat after waking up on Wednesday?

Draxler: I've never actually played a match at one in the afternoon, so I asked the guys who play in England how they cope and what they eat before an early afternoon match - some Premier League games kick off at midday. I find eating pasta in the morning very hard work, so I ate a nice big breakfast instead, with muesli, bread rolls and scrambled egg.

DFB.de: On Germany's USA tour in the summer of 2013 the climate was similar to what we have here in Brazil. You were substituted after 55 minutes of a match against Ecuador and afterwards you said you were delighted…

Draxler: True, because it really was brutally hot in Miami that day, but I think it'll be a completely different situation during the World Cup.

DFB.de: Why?

Draxler: A number of reasons. I've been out with injury a couple of times this season and I was utterly gutted at the time, but looking at it now I've benefited from having a few weeks’ rest during the season. Overall I can definitely say I'm much fitter then I was a year ago. Next, every player gets a real boost from knowing he's at the World Cup. Last but not least, every single one of us is very well prepared. I can say this for certain: we're up for it.