Lukas Podolski says Serge Gnabry is good enough to make Germany’s World Cup squad stressing that age should be no barrier to participation in a major tournament.
Highlighting the fact that he himself played for his country at Euro 2004 at the tender age of 18, the striker also praised the fact so many of his young compatriots are making careers abroad.
“Gnabry has the quality to jump on the World Cup train,” Podolski told Bild.
“Jogi Löw has to decide whether he is mature enough to participate there. I was at my first major tournament in 2004 and I was only 18-years-old. At that time it was a different time, Schweinsteiger and I were the only young players in the team.
“We now have many young talents who play all over the world. I think it’s great that someone like Serge plays for Arsenal and is in the spotlight.”
Given that Löw has called up four debutants for the friendly with Chile this week and Gnabry isn’t one of them, it looks as though the Arsenal man’s chances of making Brazil are probably limited.
Having clarified his international ambitions by underlining his commitment to Germany it looks as though his best bet is fighting for a role in the Euro 2016 qualification process ahead of the tournament in France.
If he gets some more playing time this season then definitely he will gnab the spot in German squad by showcasing his talent
Gnabry is full of talent but competing with players like Schuerle, Reus and Draxler who have much more experience it’s mission impossible to make the squad.
I have to agree with that. The Germany squad is crazy right now, so much talent. The squad depth is incredible. I’m feeling fairly confident he’ll be in it by Euro 2016 though.
Arsene be bold. Play more of this kid and Ox the flanks we badly need their energy and directness!..pleaase
Our midfield needs at least some ‘space’ to maneuovre. Theo Walcott was the ‘threat’ on the wings that opened up the ‘space’ for his teammates.
With Theo out injured, Gnabry is the closest thing we’ve got in terms of pace and directness.
Gnabry on the right + The Ox on the left. Until Ramsey gets back, Cazorla No.10, and Ozil as DM next to Arteta (where he can ‘sneak’ into dangerous positions like Ramsey did so often this year).
Never forget 5-3 at Stamford Bridge with Dutch Skunk hattrick and John Terry falling on his arse. Be bold Arsene!
Are Rambling Pete and #LOL still around? Loved those guys.
Hope he makes it! Clearly a top player…
I did a bit of research, and if he wants to play RW for Germany he has to compete against: Thomas Muller Andre Schurrle Andre Hahn (23yrs old, plays for Augsburg, 22 league appearances this season, 10 goals, 5 assists) Kevin Volland (21yrs old, Hoffenheim, 22 appearances, 8 goals, 7 assists) Maximilian Beister (23yrs old, Hamburger, 16 appearances, 5 goals, 6 assists) Patrick Herrmann (23yrs old, Monchengladbach, 23 appearances, 4 goals, 5 assists) Jonas Hoffman (21yrs old, Dortmund, 18 appearances, 1 goal, 5 assists) Leonardo Bittencourt (20yrs old, Hannover 96, 21 appearances, 4 goals, 2 assists) That’s not even counting… Read more »
But then….. He’s playing for the arsenal.. That alone gives him an edge over some of the other youngstars, believe me if he had made as much appearance for arsenal as the other up coming stars for their respective clubs then he would have been called up for this recent friendly, but as someone rightly pointed out we need to use this kid more often on the wing along side oxlade if we want to cope very well for the remainder of the season
To think that Frimpong will go to the World Cup though! Maybe Serge should do a Kevin Prince Boateng and choose Ivory Coast?
I’d rather he didn’t, that leaves us with him missing January/February every other year to play in the ACN, and given he’ll be a key player for us down the line we’ll need him in our bogey part of the year
Personally I don’t give a monks left bollock about the world cup, nor our national side for that matter. Just our team. Podolski would do better analysing his own form rather than Gnabry’s, especially while the former is playing like a seaside donkey
It his hard to make the German team when he never plays for his club. So no surprise there. We ought to have shipped him out on Loan imo, cause he is good enough to play for a smaller PL club or a Championship club etc. And he would get invaluable experience playing first team football. Many of his competitors for his position plays first XI football regularly, so when dont play at all, it will be impossible to compete.