EURO blank nettles Germany's Müller

It is a peculiar fact. Germany's Thomas Müller shone at two FIFA World Cups, scoring a total of ten goals; by contrast, this is his second EURO and he still has to find the net.

"Of course, I am not entirely pleased by how things have gone so far," the 26-year-old admitted on Sunday. "But I also think I have not been as bad as some have said."

The striker cum 'Raumdeuter' (translation: space interpreter) feels there is too much focus on his headline stats and not enough understanding of the work he puts in on the pitch. "More objectivity would be nice," Müller continued. "As an attacker, you are only measured by how many goals you score, not by what else you have done for the team. I am not too bothered about not having scored at a EURO, more by the fact we have failed to create a lot of chances as a team."

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Coach Joachim Löw supports that view. "Müller has not had any great chances so far – that's not like him. But he is important to have on the pitch. He talks a lot with other players, runs hard, does a lot of things in defence and is always open to discussion when it comes to tactical details."

Maybe some of these tactical discussions have focused on a different position for the Bayern stalwart. He featured as a right-winger in the first two Group C matches, but there are two possible problems with this. One: his right-back is Benedikt Höwedes –  a reliable, honest centre-back for Schalke, but no Philipp Lahm when it comes to creativity, meaning more opportunities have come down Germany's left.

Two: at the World Cup and for Bayern, Müller usually takes a more central berth, either in the hole or even as an out-and-out striker. Will he be redeployed in one of these roles for the rest of the campaign?

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"Sometimes I play well and get criticism; sometimes I play pretty badly and score and then everyone says: 'Müller saved the day,'" he shrugged. "Then I sit at home wondering what's going on.

"You have to accept criticism, but not everything we have done so far has been wrong," he added. "Northern Ireland will mainly focus on defending, no matter what the score is. Those who know me know very well that I would gladly take a dogged win and then just stand back and take whatever was written the next day."

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