Messi, Messi, they call when Mesut Oezil has the ball, but Germany’s number 8 doesn’t want to be compared to the man wearing the 10 for Argentina.
It’s just a name thing, he says. Messi seemed to be easier to say than Mesut, and the tag has stuck.
Unlike Barcelona star Messi, who arrived at the World Cup as World Footballer of the Year, “Messi” Oezil was largely unknown outside Germany before the tournament.
But he made an immediate impact in the 4-0 thrashing of Australia, and has continued to stand out in Germany’s progress to the quarterfinals.
A fine winning goal from outside the area followed against Ghana while he set up one of Thomas Mueller’s two goals in the 4-1 defeat of England.
Now Oezil, for Germany, and Messi, for Argentina, could be the keys to the outcome of Saturday’s clash in Cape Town.
The two players are of the same generation. Messi, who has just turned 23, is 16 months Oezil’s senior and is much admired by the Werder Bremen player.
“Messi has proven in the last few years what a player he is,” Oezil told DPA .
“He is not world footballer of the year for nothing and he’s had so much success. He is small, a strong dribbler and has a dangerous shot.”
What could Oezil take from Messi’s game? “Nothing,” he says. “I know what I can do and I am a different sort of player. I come more from the middle. I play behind the striker in a playmaker position. I can get the best out of my game here by playing the killer pass, taking shots from a distance or also trying to dribble.” Like Messi, Oezil appears to have the freedom to roam, playing deeper than striker Miroslav Klose, but ahead of central midfielders Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira.
Germany have been attacking with a pincer movement of Lukas Podolski on the left and Mueller on the right, with Oezil often finding the space himself to make runs into the area. Defences seem to have trouble picking him up.
“I had chances which I unfortunately didn’t take but I hope that works out better in the next games,” he said.
Oezil is benefiting from the faith paid in him by coaches Thomas Schaaf at Bremen and Joachim Loew in the national team.
“Every player has to work defensively but when we are attacking and I have the ball I have my freedom. The team gives me great support and the coaching staffs are right behind me,” he said.
Loew had been looking for an inventive player in central midfield, and realised he had a gem when Oezil made his international debut at 20 early last year.
Despite a UEFA Cup final appearance with Bremen, the quarterfinal against Argentina now presents potentially the biggest game of his life, although he plays down Saturday’s encounter.
“I’ve had very important games. Ghana was also a knockout (last group) game, England as well, and now we are facing Argentina,” he said.
“We know Argentina are a very strong team with world class players with Messi, (Carlos) Tevez. We are looking forward to them. It will be an interesting game in any case and if we play as we can we will win against Argentina as well.”
