Mesut Ozil “wears the Germany jersey with pride” regardless of what his critics may think, says the Arsenal star’s international team-mate Kerem Demirbay. The 29-year-old playmaker has often divided opinion throughout his career, with questions inevitably asked of a creative influence that can drift in and out of games.
Ozil has, however, been thrust firmly under the spotlight over recent weeks, with both his on and off-field activity being dissected in minute detail.
A disappointing showing at World Cup 2018 did little to aid his cause, with players past and present quick to offer an opinion on a performer who has become a scapegoat for a group stage exit. Demirbay believes that a fellow German with Turkish roots has been unfairly singled out, telling Kicker: “If all is well, then everything is fine. If it is not, I find it wrong to single out individuals.
“There is no need to question anything. Mesut wears the national jersey with pride, just like me and everyone else.”
Ozil angered many German supporters when he was pictured with controversial Turkey president Recap Tayyip Erdogan on the eve of World Cup duty.He also continues to infuriate many fans with his reluctance to sing the national anthem when on international duty. Hoffenheim midfielder Demirbay feels this is another example of critics looking to pick unnecessary faults in a man who has always given his all for his country.
He added of the 2014 World Cup winner: “Mesut is not obliged to sing the national anthem. Not because he is a German Turk but because he has decided not to do that. You have to respect that decision, as it is accepted for players of other national teams.”
Ozil’s father, Mustafa, has suggested that his son should quit international football in the wake of the stinging criticism which has come his way, but the former Real Madrid star has offered no indication as yet that he is considering such a move.
The Gunners playmaker ha recently encountered alot of negative criticism following German early exit from the World Cup. German Football Association general manager Oliver Bierhoff previously admitted it could have been a mistake to take Mesut Ozil to the World Cup amid the controversy involving Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The day before the announcement of Germany’s preliminary squad, Ozil and Ilkay Gundogan had their picture taken with Erdogan during the president’s visit to London, sparking a barrage of criticism.
But while Gundogan published a statement on social media committing himself to “German values,” Ozil remained quiet throughout and became a topic of debate, and Bierhoff told Die Welt that as a result the federation should have handled the situation differently.
“I believe that the team wasn’t so bothered about the fact that Mesut and Ilkay were in the photos,” Bierhoff told the newspaper. “But the [media] debate just wouldn’t stop. In hindsight, I would have tried to deal with this issue in a more decisive manner.”
And Bierhoff said the controversy reached a point where the federation should have considered leaving Ozil out of the squad when the player declined to address the matter.
“We should have considered passing on him,” Bierhoff said. “We have never forced national team players to do something, but rather always tried to convince them. We failed to do that with Mesut. And thus, we should have considered to pass on him for sporting purposes. But you also have to note that Mesut could not just say what was expected of him due to certain and evident reasons. Ilkay Gundogan talked, and by doing so opened himself up, but yet he was still strongly criticised.”