Thomas Muller claims Germany are 'objective' about facing Italy: 'They could throw us out, but we're confident'.
The two giants of international football face each other on Saturday night in Euro 2016's quarter-final. Most believe the Mannschaft are the favourites for the win, and the Bayern Munich striker was asked whether this meant his team was overconfident.
Thomas Muller claims Germany are 'objective' about facing Italy: 'They could throw us out, but we're confident'.
The two giants of international football face each other on Saturday night in Euro 2016's quarter-final. Most believe the Mannschaft are the favourites for the win, and the Bayern Munich striker was asked whether this meant his team was overconfident.
“No, we're aware that we could lose against this Italy,” Muller told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “In fact we are objective about it. There's a chance that they could send us home.
“But I'm confident that we'll stick around. We're not even going to watch the semi-final from four years ago, that's a bygone era in football terms. And we've changed in the meantime.
“Whether I'll start or not depends on the Coach, though I've already been given a few hints.”
The 26-year-old was then asked whether the Mannschaft would be able to fight back if they went down by a goal.
“I couldn't say, we still haven't conceded once. Back in 2012 we had a similar squad to this one, but some mistakes were made. If somebody is willing to take the blame, it means football is different from golf, which I play in a couple with Bastian Schweinsteiger. In that sport, nobody admits to a mistake in front of the Press. In Poland, many of us shared the blame."
Italy are famous for the BBC defence, but Germany are not short of talent, with Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng playing together.
"They give us safety at the back, they complete each other and they do a lot for the team. “But that doesn't mean we can allow our opponents to charge at them five times. And there's the guidance of [Manuel] Neuer behind them. Together they make for a fundamental department.
“It's the same for Italy. You can tell the way they understand each other at a glance, when Gigi [Buffon] has the ball you already know that he will find [Andrea] Barzagli on the right and [Leonardo] Bonucci before him.
“They know the way that passes will come to them, they have feeling and enormous experience. But I'll say this again, even Juve conceded goals in the Champions League, and even Italy can be defeated.
“How? I see they always start from the back, with the ball from a low line. If you press them, they let loose [a long ball]. But that's the only solution they have, so sometimes they're forced to play back to the 'keeper. We must focus on the ball and attack them.”
Thomas Muller's next Coach, Carlo Ancelotti, is going to be Italian, and may not appreciate a goal on Saturday night.
“To the contrary! I must score many goals to show him how good I am.”