Ilkay Gundogan: Pressure for Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira – RP ONLINE

Ilkay Gundogan is after a long time of suffering back in the circle of the national team – and “hungry,” he emphasized. For him also closes a circle.

The new captain government statement had to wait. Because Bastian Schweinsteiger arrived at the German national soccer team in Frankfurt / Main until Monday afternoon, the successor of the World Cup captain Philipp Lahm has his grand entrance until Tuesday. Instead Schweinsteiger, who since the triumph of Rio again met for the first time to the German team, saying among other things Ilkay Gundogan. Ironically.

It is not so long ago, that the Dortmund as the better Schweinsteiger. In the summer of 2013 did not mean a few experts, Munich had given the strong performances of the competitors tremble for his place in the German midfield. Germany coach Joachim Loew said, Gundogan had “all the prerequisites to become a world class player”. And his then assistant Hansi Flick said, Gundogan is “very close to it” on the defensive duo Schweinsteiger Sami Khedira. In the first training session in Frankfurt the Madrilenian was the only one of this trio on the court.

Then the international match was on 14 August 2013 against Paraguay in Kaiserslautern. Gundogan began in defensive midfield alongside Khedira, even scored a goal – but then he had been injured in the 27th minute to get out. At that time, Gundogan on Monday said he was expecting “four to six weeks’ break.

Photos: Gündogans handball in the penalty area goes unpunished PHOTO: afp, ej

But it took 586 days, until he came to the DFB team again. On Wednesday (20.30 clock / ZDF) he could return against Australia at the first international game of the year – just in the Fritz-Walter-Stadion. . “For me, come full circle,” Gundogan said

The 24-year-old arrived by train – and was faster than Schweinsteiger, who sent a photo with the second returnees Holger Badstuber via Twitter from the car. “The thirst is great,” said Dortmund, “but to ask now claims would not be right.” He has played since he first time since that fateful day of Kaiserslautern was mid-October again for BVB in the square 23 competitive matches. Having good meetings “there is always a game that so great is not,” he said.

Schweinsteiger may feel safe for the time being, especially as Germany coach Joachim Loew made him following the resignation of Philipp Lahm to captain. Gundogan is first fight with the also because of various health setbacks weakening Khedira one place. Low values ​​its ability to put pressure on the opponent, balls to win – and to distribute them as fast as accurate. Gundogan is very agile despite his 180 cm, its liquid elegant movements draw on a good day at Spain’s World star Xavi.

Photos: Loew remains until 2018 National Coach PHOTO: AP, sh hak

Before he had been long pause “on the right track,” said Gundogan having to follow the World Cup on the TV only had therefore “hurt done “. But the suffering had also positive. He now knew rather appreciate that “you can spend the day without pain.” Meanwhile, he felt “reborn as a completely different person.”

And that he showed. Gundogan smiled a lot, he “enjoyed it all,” he said. But when pleasure he did not know misunderstood his return. “It’s the players who have not witnessed the triumph are hungry,” he said. Schweinsteiger and Khedira it will feel

Source: sid