World NewsOzil Ready For English Challenge |
GERMANY forward Mesut Ozil has been one of the most impressive players at the Under-21 European Championships in Sweden, but he knows he will have to be at his very best to help his team beat England tomorrow.
The Werder Bremen playmaker set up both goals in Germany's 2-0 win over Finland on Thursday, recovering from a back strain to show his full potential in the second half of that game.
Germany now face England knowing a draw would be good enough to reach the semi-finals, but aiming for a win which would earn them top spot in the group.
Yet England have not dropped a single point in their two previous matches and Ozil admits they are going to be tough opponents.
"It is no coincidence they have picked up six points from their first two games," said the 20-year-old.
"They were the best team in both of their games, even with ten men against Finland.
"It is certainly going to be hard against them because they are very compact. Furthermore, they have plenty of good individual players.
"But we know what we are capable of and we have nothing to fear against England. We will give it all we have got and we want to win the group."
Ozil, capped once at senior level, is out to impress Germany coach Joachim Low as he targets a seat on the plane to South Africa next summer.
"I want to be at the World Cup," he told Werder Bremen's website.
"I will continue giving it my best and trying to recommend myself for a place with my performances here.
"My aim is to play in the senior team."
Ozil has already tasted success this season, winning the DFB-Pokal with Werder, and that has given him a taste for more.
"We won one title with Werder and now really want to become European champions," he said.
"If we manage that, then this season will have gone very, very well for me."
Copyright (c) 2009 Press Association
Have YOUR say - What do you think about "Ozil Ready For English Challenge"? Tell us NOW in the comment section below.
We talk to Premier League hot-shots Wayne Rooney and Fernando Torres, Socceroos’ frontmen Harry Kewell and Josh Kennedy, as well last season’s Bundesliga top scorer Grafite and Man United legend Andy Cole.
