Chelsea forward Andre Schurrle is in Brazil as part of the Germany squad aiming to be the first European nation to win the World Cup in South America.
Here, Schurrle talks to adidas about Germany's World Cup chances, the importance of fans to a team's success, and his taste in music…
Germany have won three World Cups and three European Championships, but nothing since 1996. Why the long wait?
Well you sometimes need luck and I am sure the gap between trophies wasn’t for lack of effort. I grew up watching the 2000s team get to the finals of World Cup 2002 in Japan and Korean and semi-final at home in 2006.
And the team reached the final of Euro 2008.We have had some great players like Michael Ballack but unfortunately couldn’t go the whole way.
How far can Germany go at the World Cup?
We believe we can get to the semi-finals. I don’t think that is arrogance, but we know we have quality, and self-belief is a good thing I think. In the last three World Cups we have reached the last four at least, so I think it’s a good target. Of course there are loads of excellent teams in our way.
How will your experiences in the Premier League help you at the World Cup?
The Premier League is a tough league. It’s physical but in an honest way, not dirty or violent. This took a short time to get used to but now I feel at home and love it.
To go far in a World Cup you have to play against many different teams with different styles. Sometimes you will play skilful teams so you have to be alert and disciplined, other times you might face a combative side who will try and intimidate you. By playing in England I feel able to handle all sorts of opponents now.
How important are the fans during a World Cup campaign?
The Germany fans back home and across the world are very important during a tournament. Thanks to social media like Twitter and Facebook we can stay very close to them.
Between games and after training we will all be on our laptops and phones looking at what the supporters are saying. It brings them nearer to us and can inspire us to go far.
In the past squads had to rely on papers and magazines to know what fans were thinking, but today we can communicate instantly, even the night of a match. I like that a lot.
You are famous for your speed. Is it natural or do you work on it?
It has always been there naturally, I come from an athletics family, my sister was a fine high jumper. But I also work very hard to maintain and improve my pace.
You have to identify the right muscles and then augment them carefully. Too much bulk is no good for speed and explosivity. Technique is crucial as well, it’s important to run properly. A faulty running style will cause you to tire quickly.
I need to be stable and consistently fast over 70-90 metres, not just the first 10-15metres. Pace is vital for effective counter-attacks. You need to accelerate, but also maintain that charge, especially if you win the ball in your own half.
I hope to start games in the World Cup, but I will have no problem coming on as a substitute against tiring defences in the heat. That would be the perfect use of my speed. And could be a lot of fun!
Is it true that you are part of the younger generation of Germans who stray from stereotypical music tastes like rock and guitar music?
Yes, I am more of an RnB, hip-hop or house music fan. There isn’t much hairy man rock in my collection. I know this is the old view of Germans, but things are changing, I assure you! I am quite cutting edge and contemporary in my tastes.
