Höwedes to give all for glory
Monday, June 29, 2009
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Benedikt Höwedes, the defender whose last-minute goal in their play-off against France earned Germany's place at this UEFA European U21 Championship, is ready for one last push at glory.
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Benedikt Höwedes, the man whose last-minute goal in France earned Germany's place at this UEFA European Under-21 Championship, is ready for one last push at glory.
Anticipation
Monday's final against England in Malmo cannot come too soon for the 21-year-old FC Schalke 04 defender. "We're approaching the end and now everybody wants to win the big prize. In cases like this, everybody gives more individually and as a team. We're all really looking forward to it. It will be a nice game – Germany against England is a classic match."
Hrubesch effect
If it was Höwedes' solitary goal in Metz that clinched a 2-1 qualifying play-off win over France in October, the centre-half attributes much of Germany's subsequent success to the coach who took charge in November, Horst Hrubesch. "Yes, I scored in the last minute and thanks to that goal we qualified for the tournament. But it was the team that deserved to go through," he said. "The gaffer talks a lot with his players and gives us instructions on how he would like us to play – how to stay compact, how to play quick direct passes to carry us forward, and how to create shooting chances on goal. I believe this is what characterises us and as a result we're in the final. We are even confident enough to say that we'll win the title."
England threat
Höwedes, who has made 30 Bundesliga appearances for Schalke, also notched Germany's first goal of this tournament in Sweden, a header in the 2-0 Group B victory against Finland. His priority at the Malmö New Stadium, however, will be preventing the opposition from scoring. Considering England pilfered an equaliser from a corner when the two finalists drew 1-1 in the group last Monday – not to mention the number of opportunities from set-plays that the Italians had in Friday's semi-final – the No4 said: "We'll watch them on video again and study their set-pieces in depth, so that we're better lined up against England."
Just win
Much may depend on Höwedes and centre-back partner Jerome Boateng, as this is a Germany team that prides itself on defensive excellence above all things. Yet even if that fails, there is always the German fall-back option of sheer bloody-mindedness – Höwedes can see only one possible outcome. "I'm pretty much convinced that it will end in a very positive way," he said. "To play a European Championship and to play a final is something big. We're really looking forward to the game." He will even forgo the scoring honours. "I don't really care who gets the goals. The most important thing is we win."