You can ask.

The man in question was a step further, but still within earshot.

"Mr. Götze, do you want to say something?" asked one of the reporters when Mario Götze was about to leave the stadium in al-Khor late on Sunday evening.

Götze turned to him briefly, a smile somewhere between friendly and apologetic, a look that said: no.

But by then he was almost gone anyway.

Four days earlier, different stadium, same situation, Götze had already said something.

However, only two words: "Not today."

Christian Kamp

sports editor.

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The Germans have been in Qatar for two weeks now, and Götze hasn't spoken since then, not in public.

Fourteen days, that translates into eight press conferences (minus the one where Hansi Flick didn't want to strain his players) and two mixed zones after the games.

On the other hand, the German Football Association and its advisors could tell you a lot about how great the desire is to learn something from the world champion and final hero of 2014.

The appointment of the now thirty-year-old to Hansi Flick's squad for Qatar was no longer a big surprise, but it was definitely a big story before leaving for the Gulf.

And if Niclas Füllkrug hadn't scored the goal to make it 1-1 against Spain, the questions about Götze might have been a little louder now.

But the fact is that Götze doesn't want to talk at this World Cup, at least not as long as he hasn't really arrived at it.

He didn't play against Spain at all, against Japan for a good ten minutes in which Germany, even if Götze couldn't help it, still lost the match.

In the media business of football, it is a rare art to remain silent.

In Götze's case, you can call it a very adult, i.e. a sensible decision, especially given the background, to let actions speak for themselves on the pitch.

So before there is an answer to the question of when Götze speaks, the question is: When does Götze play?

In any case, more than in the few minutes against Japan, which were only a sideline that was quickly forgotten in the great drama of this game.

"We'll see how we integrate him"

The final group game this Thursday against Costa Rica in al-Khor (8 p.m. CET in the FAZ live ticker for the World Cup, on ARD and on MagentaTV) would actually be a wonderful opportunity for this.

It's to be expected that the rooms will be boarded up to the limit, not least given the prospect of Costa Rica progressing to a possible goalless draw should Spain beat Japan.

The Germans, on the other hand, need a win, preferably with at least two goals difference, in an extreme count of eight.

But that Götze should be the one who opens the gaps can be considered almost impossible.