Mertesacker out to put an end to 'nearly men' tag

Barnaby Read 18:59 29/06/2014
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  • Natural leader: Per Mertesacker would love to lead his country but believes Philipp Lahm is the best captain in the world.

    As Germany head out to face Algeria at midnight (UAE time) on Monday, the nation will fully expect Joachim Löw’s men to advance to the quarter-final stage for the eighth consecutive World Cup.

    In those 32 intervening years, Germany have won one World Cup (in 1990), finished runner-up three times and taken third place twice.

    For most nations this would represent an outstanding level of consistent success over the course of three decades.

    For a side yet to win a World Cup as unified Germany (their three previous victories were as West Germany), it leaves them bitterly playing under the moniker of the ‘nearly men’.

    “We have been there or thereabouts in too many tournaments, and it is very frustrating for the people back in Germany,” said Germany centre-back Per Mertesacker in a Q&A with adidas. “They are desperate for us to go that extra step and become champions.”

    Mertesacker is a man who knows this pain all too well.

    The German giant (affectionately nicknamed the BFG by Arsenal fans) has been at the heart of his country’s defence in the last two World Cups where Germany has finished third.

    Not only that, Mertesacker was also central to the 2008 European Championship side that ended up as beaten finalists and the team that four years later reached the semi-final in Poland and Ukraine.

    The Arsenal man believes that will all change in Brazil, however.

    “We have been consistent, but we have not been great when it counted. I think though, we now have a deeper squad,” added the 6ft 6in defender. “The Germany first XI was always very strong, but perhaps we didn’t have enough competition for places. Now we have a squad that is truly class, from front to back.

    “We have a great mentality, that has never changed, so I think if people stay fit, this is our best chance. “

    Having tasted success at Arsenal for the first time last year, with the FA Cup triumph, Mertesacker revelled as a stand-in captain at the Emirates in the absence of Thomas Vermaelen and Mikel Arteta.

    For the time being, he is content as an unofficial leader on the pitch for Germany, with long-time captain Philipp Lahm at the helm.

    “For me Philipp Lahm is the best captain in world football,” stated Mertesacker. “He leads by example and he always says the right thing. Bastian Schweinsteiger is the same, another natural leader.

    “But if I can learn enough from them, and if somebody eventually asked me if that was a job I wanted, I would naturally agree.

    “It would make me extremely proud to lead Germany.”

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