Sami Khedira: "The kind of occasion we train for"

A high-performer in central midfield, Germany’s Sami Khedira has been shining as a shrewd strategist, tireless box-to-box player, and scorer of goals. On the day after his team’s 4-2 EURO 2012 quarter-final win against Greece, he spoke to DFB.de writer Steffen Lüdeke about his duties on the pitch and the joy that lies in special challenges.

team.dfb.de: Sami, in an interview yesterday, your father said he was very proud of you – what does that mean to you?

Sami Khedira: I have an open and honest relationship to my family and all the people close to me. My brother Rani is coming on very well at VfB Stuttgart, my other brother is taking a degree, receiving the best possible grades, and I am a footballer, as simple as that. What I’m trying to say is my father is proud of all his children! But obviously, for him to say that makes me very happy.

team.dfb.de: What went through your head when Greece scored the equalizer?

Khedira: Well, we had it coming to us. After the half-time break, we suddenly began giving possession away too fast, too easily. Then Greece played an almost perfect counter-attack. But we reacted brilliantly, keeping the tempo high, pressurising them, and not allowing them to get into their stride.

team.dfb.de: Then you scored to make it 2-1…

Khedira: Yes, but I’d had a great chance earlier in the first half, when I found myself unmarked and had a clear shot at goal, but missed. Just before scoring that 2-1, I could see Jerome Boateng sending a cross in, and while everybody was going for the near post, I kept hovering in the background. His cross looked perfect, I thought ‘hey, this could be one to hit off the laces’… and in it went! The sense of relief was immense, not just because we had taken the lead again, but also because I was so happy to have scored for the national team after a long time.

team.dfb.de: Would you say this goal was your most important contribution to the game, or simply the most visible one?

Khedira: From the fans’ point of view, I’d say ‘most important’ as it was vital for us to take the lead again. But my “real” mission on the pitch goes beyond scoring goals or providing assists. My primary task is to control the game as a kind of midfield anchorman, and as such, I’m involved in many scenes that go unnoticed.

team.dfb.de: When watching football, what do you focus on?

Khedira: Some games I just lay back and enjoy. But I almost always keep an eye on how teams and players behave tactically. Often people berate a player for ‘giving soft balls away’ when in actual fact he’s not the one to blame for losing possession. More likely than not, there just wasn’t anybody to pass the ball to because there was no movement off the ball. By the same token, people often go into raptures about goal-scorers but tend to overlook the contribution made by their team-mates in build-up play. Too many people have a superficial outlook to the game, but football is a very complex sport.

team.dfb.de: Many of your Real Madrid team-mates are EURO participants…

Khedira: Yes, and I think what Portugal have shown at this tournament so far, including the game against us, is impressive, especially Cristiano. We’re texting each other messages, sending greetings and congratulations. Mesut does that quite a lot, actually.

team.dfb.de: It’s Spain vs. France tonight – who do you keep your fingers crossed for?

Khedira: The French have an outstanding team, but that’s also true for Spain. I expect a great match. Obviously, with Spain having become my second home, I’m going to have a closer look at how the Spanish fare. The players I know a little better are all strong personalities and wonderful people. And don’t forget that we have unfinished business with Spain, so that I wouldn’t really mind if they came out as winners tonight.

team.dfb.de: You were U21 European champion in 2009. Who or what was responsible for that success?

Khedira: That would have to be coach Horst Hrubesch, without any ifs and buts. He formed a team from a selection of good individual players and that, I think, is what you can say about this senior team, too – many individual players with outstanding attacking skills working together and helping each other in defence. Just look at Mesut Özil, in many people’s eyes he was the free-thinking artist and only that, but now he is ready to shoulder defensive responsibilities, tracking back and closing down spaces. Once a team has found its identity, the sky’s the limit, as they say.

team.dfb.de: You captained the U21 in 2009. What is your role now?

Khedira: I’d say that even without the armband, I carry about the same responsibility. It’s something that has developed over the last two years. Obviously, the fact that I have the full trust and confidence of the coaching staff helps a great deal. Playing in a central position carries a lot of responsibility. I’m happy that I feel very much at home in this team, and I feel fully understood. That’s the foundation for me to perform.

team.dfb.de: If you could choose your opponent for the semis…

Khedira: …then I couldn’t say whether I’d prefer England or Italy. They’re both great football nations, and we players greatly look forward to the match. This is the kind of occasion we train for! Finding out how we measure up to the very best, that’s what it’s all about. It’s wonderful to be given a chance to write footballing history.