 |
It rapidly got even better for Germany. “Going into half-time with a 5-0 lead did our confidence the world of good,” says Özil, as masterful with a herculean understatement as he is with a deft assist. “During half-time, we just looked at each other in shock. But the manager brought us to our senses. He told us not to underestimate Brazil. This is football, anything can happen. Nobody expected Sweden to come back against us but they did [from 4-0 down to draw 4-4 in a 2014 World Cup qualifier], so we knew we could not take our foot off the gas in the second half.”
So much for the rumour that Germany made a half-time pact to go easy on a shattered Brazil in the second half of their 7-1 win. The final, says Özil, meant even more: “Germany had a habit of just getting to semi-finals, so I was so focused on winning that game. We did not come all this way to lose. I was ready to do whatever was required for the team to win.”
