ENGLAND are playing Germany in Euro 2020 tonight, but a man who has previously played a key role in the Three Lions’ downfall will be absent.
Mesut Ozil will play no part for the Germans against England, or indeed in the rest of Euro 2020.
Why is Mesut Ozil not playing for Germany?
The midfielder was instrumental in Joachim Low’s style of play and Die Mannschaft’s infamous 2014 World Cup glory – but was unable to help his side defend their title four years later in Russia.
Germany’s poor showing in the 2018 World Cup meant they were eliminated in the group stages and Ozil subsequently announced his retirement from international football, citing racism as the main reason behind his decision.
The 32-year-old, who has ancestral roots in Turkey, was heavily criticized by the press for meeting up and posing for a photograph with the country’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogen, despite the World Cup winner denying any wrongdoing.
Erdogan was also the best man at the player’s wedding in Turkey.
Ozil was also frozen out in his final years at Arsenal before moving to Fenerbahce in January 2021, so it is questionable whether his club form would have earned him a spot in the Germany side if he did choose to play.
Ozil was the highest-paid player at Arsenal on a reported £350,000 a week.
During Ozil’s singing ceremony with Fenerbahce, the experienced playmaker said: “If I go on a road, I will never come back.
“So I will not play in the German National Team anymore.
“I wish them success, but I will never play for them again”.
Ozil also ruled out the possibility of returning to play his club football in Germany before he hangs up his boots insisting that he has no plans for a Bundesliga homecoming in the future.
Asked if he has dreamt of going back to the German top-flight at some point, Ozil replied curtly: “No, I haven’t.”
Back in September 2020, DFB general secretary Friedrich Curtis admitted the German football organisation made mistakes with the way they handled Ozil and missed out on their chance to rectify the situation with the player
Curtis said: “The DFB made mistakes in dealing with the events surrounding the Ozil case.
“A photo became a burning glass for many topics. The moment there were racist allegations, we missed the time to meet with the player.”
Germany’s ‘Group of Death’ will see them take on reigning World Cup champions France on June 15, before Euro holders Portugal four days later and Hungary on June 23.
