Götze: Winning the trophy confirmed to us that hard work will be rewarded. Everything we invested into the tournament paid off which motivates us hugely ahead of the upcoming challenges.
DFB.de: Plenty has been written about Mario Götze, especially after the World Cup. Are you happy with how you are portrayed?
Götze: Their opinions on me vary. It’s difficult for journalists because they have to create an opinion on me without actually knowing me. They don’t see me in day-to-day life, but only in private interviews so consequently I don’t think the things they write about me are necessarily objective.
DFB.de: Does it annoy you when people get the wrong impression about you? Do you care about what people think about you?
Götze: The most important thing to me is what my parents and closest friends think about me. They know me better. Although, obviously, I do like that when good things are written about me and when people have a positive opinion about me.
DFB.de: The reception you received during the game against Scotland in Dortmund was incredible. How was that?
Götze: It was a pleasant surprise and it meant a lot to me, especially as it was taking place in Dortmund. It’s great when the supporters react positively to things you do on the pitch.
DFB.de: Since the World Cup things have altered: Philipp Lahm, Per Mertesacker and Miroslav Klose have retired and the former assistant coach, Hansi Flick, is now the sporting director at the DFB. From your perspective, how much has changed?
He is the man whose goal guided Germany to their fourth World Cup success: Mario Götze. The FC Bayern München attacker travels to Spain to face the former World Champions on Tuesday (20:45 CET). Ahead of the game in Vigo, the 22-year-old spoke to DFB.de about the upcoming game between the current World and European Champions, his experiences in Brazil and the European Championship qualifiers.
DFB.de: Mr Götze, Germany against Spain, the former World Cup winners against the current holders. How excited are you for the game?
Mario Götze: It’s special. It’s great that we are ending a fantastic year with another exciting and illustrious game. It was great to be awarded the Silver Laurel Leaf by the President and go to the film premiere last week. It made us feel like we were back in Brazil at the World Cup again. If we play well against Spain we have the chance to put the icing on the cake.
DFB.de: Are Spain a special team to play against?
Götze: Special in what way?
DFB.de: Germany lost to them in the final of Euro 2008 and the semi-final of World Cup 2010. You hadn’t played for the senior team at this point….
Götze: …but I can remember it well. I was a keen supporter of the national team and I was obviously disappointed and upset. Those games don’t have too much of an influence ahead of tomorrow though. I don’t think we’re out to get revenge, why would we? We’re the World Champions.
DFB.de: So is it a normal game then?
Götze: I wouldn’t say that. We’re playing a team which has dominated football recently and maintained a high level of performance for a long time, which was a great achievement. As I said earlier, we now have the opportunity to end the year on a high and I’m really looking forward to the game.
DFB.de: You’ve been in great form since the World Cup: Six goals and two assists in the Bundesliga, two goals and two assists in the Champions League as well as a goal for Germany against Gibraltar. The press are saying you are in the form of your life. Do you agree with them?
Götze: They certainly could be saying worse things about me (laughs). At the minute I’m feeling good and am fit but it’s more important that we are winning the games. I obviously enjoy contributing to the victories directly and hope it continues this way.
DFB.de: After big tournaments it’s often said that players suffer from some sort of burn-out. You prove that this isn’t necessarily true.
Götze: The year has been long and obviously the World Cup added to it. In the first few games after Brazil it was clear that it had caught up with us a little bit. But personally, I still feel good and am in good form but it will come to a point where my form drops for a few games. Everything is going well at the minute, there are no problems.
DFB.de: How did the tournament success impact your confidence?
Götze: I always look back to the World Cup and it’s unbelievable how time flies. Four weeks after the success we were back on the field playing competitive football. We didn’t have too much time to enjoy it all but we will all remember it. When you win the World Cup, your confidence levels increase hugely.
DFB.de: Why does it do this? You were a good footballer before you scored the winner in the final…
Götze: Winning the trophy confirmed to us that hard work will be rewarded. Everything we invested into the tournament paid off which motivates us hugely ahead of the upcoming challenges.
DFB.de: Plenty has been written about Mario Götze, especially after the World Cup. Are you happy with how you are portrayed?
Götze: Their opinions on me vary. It’s difficult for journalists because they have to create an opinion on me without actually knowing me. They don’t see me in day-to-day life, but only in private interviews so consequently I don’t think the things they write about me are necessarily objective.
DFB.de: Does it annoy you when people get the wrong impression about you? Do you care about what people think about you?
Götze: The most important thing to me is what my parents and closest friends think about me. They know me better. Although, obviously, I do like that when good things are written about me and when people have a positive opinion about me.
DFB.de: The reception you received during the game against Scotland in Dortmund was incredible. How was that?
Götze: It was a pleasant surprise and it meant a lot to me, especially as it was taking place in Dortmund. It’s great when the supporters react positively to things you do on the pitch.
DFB.de: Since the World Cup things have altered: Philipp Lahm, Per Mertesacker and Miroslav Klose have retired and the former assistant coach, Hansi Flick, is now the sporting director at the DFB. From your perspective, how much has changed?
Götze: It’s difficult to say. The three players and Hansi Flick were important to the team but obviously aren’t here anymore, and in some regards we are a new team and there are new aims for us. We are World Champions and want to stay there. But for now, we are focussing on other tasks.
DFB.de: After winning the World Cup, is it difficult to motivate yourself for the European Championship?
Götze: I don’t think so. We also want to be European Champions; we are aware of how difficult this will be though as there are many good teams in Europe. We want to maintain our position in world football, so I don’t think that motivation will be an issue. It’s a challenge to try and win another title so soon after the first one, illustrated by the fact that no one has ever successfully defended the Champions League.
DFB.de: Many believe that qualification is a foregone conclusion. Do you see it that way?
Götze: Any team we play faces the World Champion – it motivates them, they want to topple us. We’re a scalp, which makes thing more complicated. As World Champions people expect us to win every game; if we win every qualifier from now then it’s more than likely we’ll qualify for the tournament (Laughs).
