Mario Götze (Part 3)

Mario Götze made a significant move by joining PSV Eindhoven on a free transfer, signing a two-year contract with the Dutch club. His arrival at PSV marked a new chapter in his career after departing Borussia Dortmund.
Götze wasted no time in making an impact at his new club, as he scored on his debut for PSV in a 3–0 away victory against PEC Zwolle on 18 October 2020. This early goal demonstrated his ability to adapt quickly and contribute to his team's success.
His memorable moments continued into the following season. On 21 July 2021, Götze showcased his scoring prowess by netting twice against Galatasaray in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League second qualifying round tie. This performance highlighted his importance to the PSV squad.


Götze's influence extended beyond European competition. On 7 August 2021, he played a crucial role in PSV's 4–0 victory over rivals Ajax in the Johan Cruyff Shield, scoring a goal that helped end Ajax's 17-game unbeaten streak.
Recognizing his contributions and potential, PSV secured Götze's services for the future by extending his contract on 6 September 2021. The new deal would keep him at the club until 2024, solidifying his commitment to PSV and setting the stage for further success in the seasons to come. Mario Götze's journey with the German national team began on 17 November 2010, when he was called up for his first senior match against Sweden. He made his debut as a substitute in the 78th minute of the game, becoming the youngest German international since Uwe Seeler. His debut came alongside André Schürrle, marking the first time two German players born in reunified Germany appeared together for the national team. Götze's second appearance for Germany came in a friendly match against Italy on 9 February 2011.


Götze scored his first goal for Germany on 10 August 2011, against Brazil. At just 19 years and 68 days old, he became the joint-youngest goalscorer for the German national team in the post-war era, sharing the record with Klaus Stürmer.
His performances earned him a spot in the 23-man squad for UEFA Euro 2012, announced on 28 May 2012. Götze made his tournament debut in a 4–2 victory over Greece, coming on as a substitute in the 80th minute. This marked the beginning of Götze's impactful career representing Germany on the international stage.
Mario Götze played a significant role in Germany's journey during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He contributed four goals during the qualifying campaign and was subsequently named in Germany's squad for the tournament finals. In the opening match against Portugal, Götze won the penalty kick for Germany's opening goal, showcasing his impact on the team from the start.


His standout performance came in the second match against Ghana, where he scored the opening goal and was awarded the Man of the Match in a 2–2 draw. Throughout the tournament, Götze played crucial roles in various matches, although he had limited playing time in some games.
In the World Cup final against Argentina, Götze etched his name in football history. Substituted in the 88th minute, he received instructions from Manager Joachim Löw to make an impact. In the 113th minute, Götze controlled André Schürrle's cross on his chest before volleying the ball into the net, securing Germany's fourth World Cup title. This historic goal made Götze the first substitute to score a World Cup-winning goal. At just 22 years old, he also became the youngest player to score in a World Cup final since Wolfgang Weber in 1966.
Götze's exceptional performance in the final earned him the Man of the Match award, capping off a memorable tournament for both him and the German national team.


Mario Götze's international career saw him participate in UEFA Euro 2016, where he featured in four matches during Germany's run to the semi-finals. Despite starting every group game, he played only a limited role in the knockout phase, receiving criticism from pundits for his performances, which were deemed nondescript.
During this time, Götze also became part of a collaboration between the German Football Association and The LEGO Group, featuring as one of the collectible minifigures released in May 2016.


In the buildup to the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Götze made a return to the national team after a one-year absence, playing in a friendly against France in November 2017. However, he ultimately did not make the squad for the final tournament.
Surprisingly, on 10 November 2022, Götze was named in Germany's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup by Manager Hansi Flick. This selection marked his return to the national side after five years, raising eyebrows and generating significant attention.
Mario Götze is a versatile player capable of occupying various attacking positions, including left or right winger, attacking midfielder, and "false 9". Renowned for his speed, technique, dribbling skills, and playmaking abilities, Götze was once considered one of the best young talents globally.


During his first stint at Borussia Dortmund under manager Jürgen Klopp, Götze played multiple roles in the team's 4–2–3–1 formation. Following the departure of Shinji Kagawa in 2012, Klopp deployed Götze as a central attacking midfielder. German coach Joachim Löw has utilized Götze in the "false 9" role for the national team, a position he has also played under Lucien Favre at Dortmund.
In 2010, Matthias Sammer, the German Football Association's then-Technical Director, hailed Götze as one of Germany's best-ever talents. The following year, football legend Franz Beckenbauer likened Götze to "German Messi" for his speed and style of play. However, Götze's pace declined prematurely, which contributed to his departure from Dortmund for the second time.


Beckenbauer lauded Götze and Marco Reus as an unmatched attacking duo, highlighting their prolific partnership on the field.Mario Götze was born in Memmingen, Bavaria, to Jürgen and Astrid Götze. His father is a professor at the Dortmund University of Technology. Götze has two brothers: Fabian, who was a part of Dortmund's youth system before becoming a free agent in 2010, and Felix, who currently plays for Rot-Weiss Essen.
Since July 2012, Götze has been in a relationship with German lingerie model Ann-Kathrin Brömmel. The couple got engaged in 2017 and tied the knot in May 2018. They welcomed their first child, a son, in 2020, and their second child, a daughter, in 2023. Götze identifies as Christian.

References

1.  Fifield, Dominic (14 July 2014). "Joachim Löw: I told Mario Götze to 'show you are better than Messi'". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
2. ^ Raish, Dave (13 July 2014). "Götze volley gives Germany their fourth World Cup title". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
3. ^ "Germany 1–0 Argentina". BBC. 13 July 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
4. ^ "Numbers Game: All the stats from Germany's fourth World Cup triumph". Firstpost. 14 July 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
5. ^ "Awards". FIFA. 13 July 2014. Archived from the original on 11 February 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
6. ^ ESPN staff (19 June 2016). "Germany's Mario Gotze shrugs off pundit criticism after Euro struggles". ESPN. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
7. ^ Lego Group (12 April 2016). "This squad will be playing for the LEGO Minifigure Series "DFB – Die Mannschaft"". Lego.com. Lego. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
8. ^ "Mario Gotze misses out on Germany's provisional squad". BBC Sport. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
9. ^ "World Cup 2022: Midfielder Mario Gotze returns to Germany squad for first time in five years". BBC Sport. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
10. ^ "Germany World Cup squad 2022: Mario Gotze makes surprise return to join final 26-man Germany national football team roster in Qatar". Sporting News. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
11. ^ "Gotze pleased with false nine spot". Soccerway. 23 March 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
12. ^ "Matthias Sammer Praises Borussia Dortmund's German Wunderkind Mario Goetze". goal.com. 13 August 2010. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
13. ^ "Beckenbauer: Gotze is Germany's Messi". FIFA. 7 August 2011. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
14. ^ Bourgeois, Blaise (29 April 2020). "Lothar Matthäus says Mario Götze is too slow for the Bundesliga". OneFootball. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
15. ^ Kohout, Tito (19 July 2020). "Report: Fiorentina interested in Mario Götze". Viola Nation. Retrieved 20 July 2020. While [Götze] doesn't have much pace left, he's devastating with the ball at his feet and still has the technique and vision that made him one of the world's best attackers in his prime.