National soccer player Mats Hummels (32) has snubbed the criticism of his former world champion colleague Bastian Schweinsteiger because of his own goal at the European Championship opener against France.
"I think Basti, as a former footballer, should be able to better assess how difficult this ball is," said Hummels in the Bild newspaper about the ARD experts' allegation that he looked "wooden" in the 1-0 draw against the world champions.
"But as an expert he can of course express his opinion."
There are own goals “where you can do a lot - and some where you have few options”, explained Hummels: “The own goal against France wasn't one where I could have done a lot differently.” Every footballer knows: “It is extremely difficult to defend such an extremely sharp ball. On a really good day, I might get it cleared up. ”For a central defender like him, it was“ perhaps the most unpleasant ball there is ”.
The defense chief of Borussia Dortmund had made his comeback in the national team before the EM, after national coach Joachim Löw had retired him two years earlier.
He said he didn't need to be cheered up after the gaffe.
And at least one German fan has impressed the Dortmund with his hit: his son Ludwig (3).
“Fortunately, he doesn't yet know what an own goal is.
He thinks: the ball in the net is always right.
I was told that he was cheering.
I'll have to teach him that, ”he said.
"Mass of offensive players"
For the second group game against defending champions Portugal on Saturday (6:00 pm in the FAZ live ticker for the European Football Championship, on ARD and MagentaTV), Hummels demanded: “We have to stop the Portuguese together.” The “problem” in the duel with Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. is "the mass of good offensive players.
In 2014, Ronaldo was still the focus of the offensive.
Now they have a large number of outstanding players. ”Portugal's superstar played four times in major soccer tournaments against Germany, but he has not yet scored a goal.
And the DFB team always won.
An overview of the tournament games between Germany and Portugal:
June 14, 1984, European Championship group game, 0-0:
At the start of the tournament, defending champion Germany tormented himself to a zero number in Strasbourg.
National coach Jupp Derwall lets the great heat apply as an excuse.
Germany then fails in the group stage.
For Portugal it is only over in the semi-finals against France.
June 20, 2000, European Championship group game, 0: 3:
The maximum humiliation.
Sergio Conceicao meets three times in Rotterdam and throws Germany out of the tournament early.
The aged Lothar Matthäus cannot prevent the debacle.
Erich Ribbeck has to go as team boss.
At the DFB, the rebuilding towards the home World Cup in 2006 begins.
July 10, 2006, World Cup, game for 3rd place, 3-1:
Bastian Schweinsteiger and an own goal by Petit lead to the acclaimed end of the summer fairy tale in Stuttgart.
Germany is in a collective football frenzy.
Oliver Kahn ends his national team career.
Two days later, Joachim Löw took over the national coaching job from Jürgen Klinsmann.
June 19, 2008, European Championship quarter-finals, 3-2:
Joachim Loew has been banned from UEFA for a game.
Under assistant Hansi Flick, he wins an exciting game in Basel.
Bastian Schweinsteiger, Miroslav Klose and Michael Ballack are the German goal scorers.
Cristiano Ronaldo has to go home.
June 9, 2012, European Championship group game, 1-0:
Next European Championship, next duel.
And Germany is cheering again.
At the beginning, Mario Gomez meets in Lviv for the success of the DFB.
After Oliver Kahn and Jens Lehmann, Cristiano Ronaldo cannot overcome Manuel Neuer either.
The German streak of success only lasted until the semi-finals against Italy (1: 2).
June 16, 2014, World Cup group game, 4: 0:
This time it's going to be tough for Ronaldo.
A three-pack from Thomas Müller and a goal from Hummels ensure a German dream start in Salvador.
Four weeks later, Germany is world champion.
Ronaldo has to go home early and wait two years for his first title with Portugal.