Leon Goretzka: Robust in the field, even more robust next to the course

There has been much talk of robustness in these days in the national team, it is the new fashion theme at the DFB-Elf. The national team should not hide, should take on the duel, push ahead, show presence, and Leon Goretzka preceded before the press ever with the best example. When a journalist actually addressed a question to Captain Manuel Neuer, Goretzka, sitting next to Neuer, commented: "Since I have not said so many today, I'll answer the question."

So self-confident, the coach wants the Bayern midfielder, and you can quietly add, a little more self-confident than last. The 24-year-old has already completed 23 international matches, including some were very strong, but those are already back. At the Confed Cup 2017 Goretzka, then still in the service of FC Schalke 04, triumphed, and international journalists, who for the first time really noticed the midfielder, wrote his name in capital letters in their notebooks. His dynamic, his entrance, the ability to combine tackling strength with technical elegance - all this promised the highest.

Change to Munich actually a carte blanche

When he also made the change to Bayern Munich, the international career was actually predestined. After all, the transfer to Säbener Straße for many years has been something of a carte blanche for the national team. But if you ask today about the actors who have become pillars of the DFB after moving to Munich, then the names Serge Gnabry, Niklas Süle, Joshua Kimmich fall. At Goretzka think only a few. He still promises a lot.

This is not first and foremost the fault of the player. Goretzka has been plagued by injuries in his early career, which has continued in Munich. In addition, he has to accept that in both the club and the DFB, the posts in the midfield coveted and partially already taken. Against Kimmich, Ilkay Gundogan, Toni Kroos, Kai Havertz you have to prevail in the national team once, including made favorites of Joachim Loew.

So far set for Flick

At the 2014 World Cup, as a young player he already belonged to the provisional World Cup squad, then many wondered about it, four years later Goretzka came only against South Korea for 60 minutes for use, it was not just for him a World Cup to forget. Now Goretzka undertakes the next attempt to establish itself with Löw. Whether he also belongs to the profiteers of the coaching change in Munich, one still has to wait. At least he belonged in both previous games under Hans-Dieter Flick to the starting eleven.

Opposes racism

"I like taking on responsibility, that's what distinguishes me," said Goretzka in an interview with "11 Friends". Above all, he does not only do this on the pitch, Goretzka has an eye for political issues, for social trends, he speaks out in the social media. In this respect, at least he is far ahead of many a member of the national team.

Racism, sexism, homophobia - these are the topics in which he has repeatedly taken a stand. And of those he emphasizes that they are not dictated by any marketing agency to the smartphone. His striking phrase "I am a child of the Ruhr area, where responding to the question of nationality with Schalke, Dortmund or Bochum", was voted second in the election for the Football Word of the Year. The winner was the trainer Imke Wübbenhorst ("I'm a pro. Goretzka's reaction? He congratulated on making the right decision: "She raised an important topic, one that may have earned even more attention in football."

#NoMillimetrigger https://t.co/c2ANtKsZqB

But when at the World Cup last year, his teammate Mesut Özil, as a child of the Ruhr, was racially abused, but was also heard of Goretzka nothing. He underestimated the implications of this topic at that time, he later said: "We were not consistent enough." He seems to have learned his lessons from this. "The goal must be: no racism," said Goretzka recently the "spark media group". "When I get so much attention as an athlete, I can use it differently than just showing what a great car I drive."

With the price of having to put up with hostile hostility on the Internet, as Goretzka recently revealed on Twitter. Nevertheless, he wants to give everyone courage to raise his voice, said the native Bochumer.

On Sundays, I always like to do the fan mail, which has been left lying all week. What should I answer? pic.twitter.com/sZPqxJ2wPg

Similarly courageous he wished him in the adjacent qualifiers against Belarus and Northern Ireland. But here he is not necessarily set, Kroos and Gündogan are also available, Kimmich plays in the national coach anyway, as good as ever. So it could be that Goretzka has to be patient again. He has learned to wait.