Why the sporting criticism of Özil is not justified

Mesut Özil hasn't spoken much in the last few weeks. At least not externally, with the media and journalists. The Arsenal professional would have had every reason to talk. First the scandalous photo with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, then the alleged injury before the Saudi Arabia test match. Finally, the harsh criticism (Mario Basler: “He has the body language of a dead frog.”) from so-called experts who left the factual and objective level a long time ago. Criticizing Özil is easier than bashing Thomas Müller or Mats Hummels.

The Erdogan effect and its catastrophic consequences The criticism of Özil was partly justified. Of course, being photographed with Erdogan was anything but a good idea. Just like keeping quiet about the topic afterwards. A sincere and public apology would probably have achieved more than the half-baked PR campaigns (including a visit to German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier) by the DFB. While Ilkay Gündogan faced at least some media after the Erdogan photo, Özil stubbornly remained silent - even at the DFB media day in Girlan, where all players otherwise took part. Özil's performance against South Korea was good: he played seven key passes. © APA/afp / SAEED KHAN

Manager Oliver Bierhoff believed that the issue would resolve itself over time. At the training camp in Eppan he said that now “we have to be good.” But that was a fatal misjudgment. The receipt came in the media and from the spectator stands. A scene after the South Korea game was typical. Özil wanted to give the German fans his jersey, but they insulted the midfielder from the stands. Özil's performance against South Korea was good One could not have expected that Özil would be attacked so harshly. The performance in the opening game against Mexico was not good - just like that of the other German national players. Against Sweden, national coach Joachim Löw took his number 10 out of the firing line and left Özil on the bench for over 90 minutes. Because Löw wanted more chances and creativity from the game in the decisive game against South Korea, he brought Özil back into the starting line-up.

3% - Germany scored at the # WM2018 Despite 72 shots on goal, only 2 goals (3%) - only Costa Rica has a worse chance conversion (0 goals). Disaster. #KORGER pic.twitter.com/mE9M126AC6

- OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) June 27, 2018

And this time Özil delivered: all of the German team's great chances were prepared by him. The opportunity for Timo Werner in the first half, the blocked shot by Toni Kroos. In addition, Hummels' mistakenly missed header chance two minutes before the end of the game. The template always came from Özil. In total, he played seven key passes against South Korea (i.e. passes that directly lead to a shot on goal), more than anyone else at the World Cup in Russia. He also worked well backwards. It was Özil who saved in the second minute in his own penalty area from Tottenham professional Heung-Min Son, who was ready to take a shot. And yet after the game there was again talk of a lack of body language and a lack of commitment - objectivity looks different.

And then there are the statistics regarding the conversion of chances: Germany shot at the opponent's goal 72 times during the three group games. Because only two goals were scored (that's a success rate of 3 percent), the Germans had the worst opportunity conversion of all World Cup participants. For a while, Costa Rica was even worse in percentage terms, but then they scored two goals against Switzerland. For comparison: Spain had the second most shots on goal of all teams with 49. But six goals came out. And that's hardly Özil's fault.

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Why the sporting criticism of Özil is not justified

No player is as emblematic of Germany's botched World Cup as Mesut Özil. But why exactly? It just can't be because of the sport.

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