Mesut Ozil on Euro 2016: France have home ‘power’ but Germany will ‘go there to get the cup’

Mesut Ozil poses for photos with footballers from the Arsenal Soccer School in Dubai. Victor Besa for The National

Mesut Ozil, the Arsenal and Germany playmaker, was at The Sevens Stadium on Monday to visit the Arsenal Soccer School Dubai. As well as talking all things club football, the 2014 World Cup winner discussed next month’s Euro 2016.

Mesut Ozil on his long-term future: 'I will see what I do with Arsenal' after Euro 2016

On his role with Germany

“Now I’m with the German national team for a long time and we have a good side with the whole team playing very well. Not just as a leader myself, but we are very strong as a team. After the World Cup we lost some important players within our team, but we’re also strong and we have young upcoming players to compensate that and be successful at the Euros.”

On home advantage for France

“We know France are playing at home, it’s their home tournament and they’ve very strong players, so it won’t be easy to play against France. But we also played against Brazil in Brazil, and the home teams always have the fans behind them and have an extra potential and power. But, as Germany, we’re prepared to play against any national team in the world and so we just focus on playing our football. Of course, we are one of the favourites and that’s the reason we go there: to get the cup.”

On the threat of England

“Playing in the Premier League, I know the players in the England national team and I know they are very strong and very young players, especially. I think they will be one of the favourites at Euro 2016, but besides England there are other teams like France and Italy who are always strong. England will be good at the Euros — I see their players on the pitch every weekend. But we will focus on our game and will see what will happen.”

On March’s 3-2 friendly defeat to England

“It’s like in the Premier League, the teams never really give up and I saw that against England in Berlin. It was a friendly game, we were 2-0 up, but they came back to win 3-2. That shows their character and their mentality and how strong they are. That’s what I saw about the English.”

On heading to the Euros on form

“This season was probably my best season with Arsenal, but there were some factors in that, particularly that it was my first pre-season with the team. I didn’t have a pre-season the last two seasons before. In the second year I got an injury that took me out of the pitch for a long time. But you can say that this year is my best year for the team.”

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