Looking back on the failed World Cup in Qatar, Kai Havertz lamented the lack of support from German fans. “We didn’t have any support. There were other reasons too, we understand that. But there was also no support in terms of football,” said the offensive player from Arsenal FC on Thursday in the Wolfsburg Autostadt: “We were on our own there.”
Without tailwind from home, however, successes are difficult to achieve. “That’s important because it also gives strength,” said Havertz. “The kind of support that other teams had – we lacked that a bit. They always say that the fans are the twelfth man. We didn’t always feel that one hundred percent.”
The discussion about the rainbow tie, Qatar as host and the tournament date in winter had dampened the joy of the World Cup, at least in Germany, apart from sporting achievements. “You can only get the country on your side by delivering,” emphasized Julian Brandt (Borussia Dortmund) during the press conference. “You have to find your way into the European Championship and then, at best, be successful.”
Havertz also wants to “bring the fans back on board and create euphoria”. The duel with Japan on Saturday (8.45 p.m. / RTL) offers the first opportunity for this: “Even in bad phases, as a football player you need backing and support so that you can get out of there again.”
