The German reveals he feels fit after spending a long time on the sidelines and insists that his country boasts a side full of exciting young players.
The Arsenal centre-back spent a long time on the side lines after suffering an ankle injury in his side’s 2-1 victory over Sunderland. The former Werder Bremen man’s first season in the English capital was marred by injuries and
patchy performances.
The towering centre half lost his place in the Gunners’ line-up to Laurent Koscielny, suffered a similar fate in the German squad. He managed to get fit in time to feature in his country’s friendlies before the European Championship
but Mertesacker was a shadow of his former self. Die Nationalelf succumbed to a 5-3 defeat against Switzerland in which Mertesacker was at the centre of many school boy errors.
He was dropped in favour of Mats Hummels a talented young centre-back, who lifted the Bundesliga with his club Borussia Dortmund. Hummels was part of the back four that kept several clean sheets on their way to winning the domestic
title.
Joachim Low decided to partner another talented young player Holger Badstuber, with Mats Hummels in the middle of the German defence. These youngsters put in a solid performance against Portugal in Die Mannschaft’s opening fixture
of the Group of death.
"I'm getting better and better. Obviously I was out for three months, and the rehab was very hard. I didn't play during that time, so the coach [Joachim Low] chose other players and I have to accept it,” Mertesacker is quoted as
saying in an interview.
The Arsenal man acknowledges that it will be hard to break into such a talented young team, but he will try to help them with his vast experience.
“We are a very young side. I think the youngest in the tournament, and therefore we need some experienced players. So I try to do my best - if not on the pitch, then off it," he added.
Joachim Low’s has lived up to their favourites’ tag by beating all both the world class teams in their group. The performance against Portugal showed their resilience, and the win against Netherlands showed their attacking guile.
If DFB eleven continue to play like this and keep their feet on the ground they can go all the way to de throne Spain from their European crown.
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