Draxler steals the show

AFP, LILLE (FRANCE): Germany coach Joachim Loew appears to have found the right formula to get his attack firing at Euro 2016 after Julian Draxler’s outstanding contribution in Sunday’s 3-0 win over Slovakia.
The 22-year-old Wolfsburg attacking midfielder was the man of the match as Germany produced arguably their slickest performances since winning the 2014 World Cup to clinch a place in the European Championship quarter-finals.
After Jerome Boateng’s early opener, Mesut Ozil had a 13th-minute penalty saved before Draxler intervened with an assist and a goal to set the world champions up for a last-eight date with Italy or Spain.
Playing on the left wing, Draxler combined superbly with Jonas Hector before cutting the ball back for Mario Gomez to double Germany’s lead just before half-time.
“It wasn’t easy in the last game because I didn’t play but today I was happy to play and help the team,” said Draxler.
“We have a lot of quality in our side so it doesn’t matter if I don’t play. I just work hard in training so the manager can count on me if needed.”
Draxler, who said he found out he would be starting the game when he spoke to Loew just after breakfast at the team’s hotel, admitted getting into one-on-one situations with the Slovakian defence had been a key part of the German plan.
“The coach asked me to do that. He gave me a lot of self-confidence. He trusts in my quality and wanted me to search for the one-on-ones,” said Draxler, who gave Slovakia’s Bundesliga-based right-back Peter Pekarik a torrid time at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
A player with “two magic feet” according to Gomez, Draxler’s performance summed up why Manchester United have been linked with a £30 million (36.5 million euros, $40.5 million) bid to sign him just a year after he joined Wolfsburg.
It may, however, take far more than that for Wolfsburg to part with a player who is not 23 until September and has four years left on his contract, especially after his display on Sunday.

 

 

Draxler steals the show

AFP, LILLE (FRANCE): Germany coach Joachim Loew appears to have found the right formula to get his attack firing at Euro 2016 after Julian Draxlers outstanding contribution in Sundays 3-0 win over Slovakia. The 22-year-old Wolfsburg attacking midfielder was the man of the match as Germany produced arguably their slickest performances since winning the 2014 World Cup to clinch a place in the European Championship quarter-finals. After Jerome Boatengs early opener, Mesut Ozil had a 13th-minute penalty saved before Draxler intervened with an assist and a goal to set the world champions up for a last-eight date with Italy or Spain. Playing on the left wing, Draxler combined superbly with Jonas Hector before cutting the ball back for Mario Gomez to double Germanys lead just before half-time. It wasnt easy in the last game because I didnt play but today I was happy to play and help the team, said Draxler. We have a lot of quality in our side so it doesnt matter if I dont play. I just work hard in training so the manager can count on me if needed. Draxler, who said he found out he would be starting the game when he spoke to Loew just after breakfast at the teams hotel, admitted getting into one-on-one situations with the Slovakian defence had been a key part of the German plan. The coach asked me to do that. He gave me a lot of self-confidence. He trusts in my quality and wanted me to search for the one-on-ones, said Draxler, who gave Slovakias Bundesliga-based right-back Peter Pekarik a torrid time at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy. A player with two magic feet according to Gomez, Draxlers performance summed up why Manchester United have been linked with a 30 million (36.5 million euros, $40.5 million) bid to sign him just a year after he joined Wolfsburg. It may, however, take far more than that for Wolfsburg to part with a player who is not 23 until September and has four years left on his contract, especially after his display on Sunday.