Germany midfielder Sami Khedira said he is still bothered by the national team’s exit from the World Cup in the group stage.
Khedira, 31, won the World Cup with Germany in 2014 but was among a number of players who were sharply criticised for their performances in June.
It was Germany’s earliest exit at a World Cup in 80 years and it left the national team future of several players, including Khedira, in doubt.
“After a good season and nine goals with Juventus and with full fitness, I played my two worst matches at the World Cup,” Khedira wrote on Instagram. “That was really bad. That we did not work together as a team and were eliminated in the group stage still weighs on me.”
Germany finished last in their group with a win over Sweden and defeats to Mexico and South Korea. Khedira played in both defeats but was dropped against Sweden.
Khedira wrote that the criticism of Germany’s performance “is justified” but believes he can still contribute to the team if he is selected.
“It must continue to be an honour for any active player to play for this country, this association and this team,” Khedira wrote. “If there are better players at the moment then I will accept it, but should I be nominated because the coach believes I can help the [team], then for me, it is always an honour and an obligation.”
Khedira is considered a dynamic and well-rounded midfielder, with good awareness and “flawless aerial ability”, who can cover a lot of ground efficiently, recover the ball and quickly join in the team’s attacking plays; he is also capable of being a goal threat with his heading accuracy and powerful mid-range shooting.[1][3] A physically strong, energetic, and tactically intelligent player, he is also known for his ball-winning abilities, work-rate, and vision, as well as his solid technique and reliable passing, which allow him to play anywhere in midfield; although usually a central midfielder, he has also been deployed as a defensive midfielder or as a box-to-box midfielder, due to his stamina, movement, positional sense, and versatility, which also enable him to create space or contribute to his team’s offensive plays with goals, due to his ability to make late runs into the penalty area from behind. In spite of his playing ability, however, Khedira is also known to be injury-prone