Robin Knoche watched Germany’s game against Gibraltar last Friday on the TV like any other fan, but a day later he had left. Manager Joachim Löw called-up Knoche for tonight’s game against Spain in Vigo after the injury to Jerome Boateng. Everything has moved pretty quickly for the Wolfsburg player. He packed his suitcases and travelled to Munich to meet up with the team. He met up with the team on Sunday evening, flew with the team to Spain on Monday morning and took part in his first training session with the national team on Monday afternoon. Knoche spoke to Steffen Lüdeke about his experience so far with the World Champions.
DFB.de: Mr Knoche, congratulations. You trained with the World Champions for the first time yesterday. It must have been a massive thing but you weren’t affected by nerves. How did it feel?
Robin Knoche: It’s clear that I was excited today. I think that’s quite normal though. It wasn’t too bad on the pitch. When you’re doing training drills and the ball comes to you, you know what you have to do. That’s when the nervousness disappears quite quickly.
DFB.de: Does that mean you were excited for your first training session?
Knoche: Yes, but not because of that. The whole set-up with the national team is very relaxed. I was welcomed into the team very well by the manager, the staff and the players. I know a few players from the Under-21s and most of the players from games in the Bundesliga. I felt comfortable with the national team from the beginning. But we’re all footballers and we want to play football. That’s why I was excited for my first training session.
DFB.de: You were called-up after Jerome Boateng picked up an injury. How did the call-up happen? Who got in touch with you?
Knoche: On Saturday, I had two calls on my mobile phone but I missed both because I didn’t look at my phone at the time. One of the calls was from Dieter Hecking, my club manager. I rang him back and he told me what was to come.
DFB.de: The second call was from the Germany manager. Did you recognise the number?
Knoche: Yes, he also sent me a text with his number on it. Then I rang him back.
DFB.de: How did you envisage the conversation? How long did you talk for?
Knoche: We didn’t talk for long. He told me that I had been officially called-up and said that he was looking forward to getting to know me as part of the team. I was definitely a bit tense during the call but I was incredibly please to be called-up.
DFB.de: You play against Spain tonight in a special game. How hopeful are you of making your debut in such a prestigious game?
Knoche: Germany against Spain is a big game. Spain are a tough opposition. Of course it would be wonderful to make an appearance. But I can’t expect anything. What’s important is that the performance reflects our team. I would be very excited if I could play a part in that and could show that my call-up was justified. But even if I don’t play, the time I have spent with the national team has been an amazing experience. I’ve enjoyed every minute. It’s been a lot of fun to be a part of the team.
DFB.de: The aim in 2015 must be to be back in the squad?
Knoche: The national team is the biggest goal for any player. And that’s the same for me. My aim is to establish myself in the team at some point. But I know that I can only do that through my performances, not my speeches. If I am playing well enough for my club, then hopefully the manager will call me up again. So it’s all down to me.
[mmc/fs]
Robin Knoche watched Germany’s game against Gibraltar last Friday on the TV like any other fan, but a day later he had left. Manager Joachim Löw called-up Knoche for tonight’s game against Spain in Vigo after the injury to Jerome Boateng. Everything has moved pretty quickly for the Wolfsburg player. He packed his suitcases and travelled to Munich to meet up with the team. He met up with the team on Sunday evening, flew with the team to Spain on Monday morning and took part in his first training session with the national team on Monday afternoon. Knoche spoke to Steffen Lüdeke about his experience so far with the World Champions.
DFB.de: Mr Knoche, congratulations. You trained with the World Champions for the first time yesterday. It must have been a massive thing but you weren’t affected by nerves. How did it feel?
Robin Knoche: It’s clear that I was excited today. I think that’s quite normal though. It wasn’t too bad on the pitch. When you’re doing training drills and the ball comes to you, you know what you have to do. That’s when the nervousness disappears quite quickly.
DFB.de: Does that mean you were excited for your first training session?
Knoche: Yes, but not because of that. The whole set-up with the national team is very relaxed. I was welcomed into the team very well by the manager, the staff and the players. I know a few players from the Under-21s and most of the players from games in the Bundesliga. I felt comfortable with the national team from the beginning. But we’re all footballers and we want to play football. That’s why I was excited for my first training session.
DFB.de: You were called-up after Jerome Boateng picked up an injury. How did the call-up happen? Who got in touch with you?
Knoche: On Saturday, I had two calls on my mobile phone but I missed both because I didn’t look at my phone at the time. One of the calls was from Dieter Hecking, my club manager. I rang him back and he told me what was to come.
DFB.de: The second call was from the Germany manager. Did you recognise the number?
Knoche: Yes, he also sent me a text with his number on it. Then I rang him back.
DFB.de: How did you envisage the conversation? How long did you talk for?
Knoche: We didn’t talk for long. He told me that I had been officially called-up and said that he was looking forward to getting to know me as part of the team. I was definitely a bit tense during the call but I was incredibly please to be called-up.
DFB.de: You play against Spain tonight in a special game. How hopeful are you of making your debut in such a prestigious game?
Knoche: Germany against Spain is a big game. Spain are a tough opposition. Of course it would be wonderful to make an appearance. But I can’t expect anything. What’s important is that the performance reflects our team. I would be very excited if I could play a part in that and could show that my call-up was justified. But even if I don’t play, the time I have spent with the national team has been an amazing experience. I’ve enjoyed every minute. It’s been a lot of fun to be a part of the team.
DFB.de: The aim in 2015 must be to be back in the squad?
Knoche: The national team is the biggest goal for any player. And that’s the same for me. My aim is to establish myself in the team at some point. But I know that I can only do that through my performances, not my speeches. If I am playing well enough for my club, then hopefully the manager will call me up again. So it’s all down to me.
