On Tuesday afternoon, Per Mertesacker joined his German national team colleagues as they departed their headquarters for what is now their fifth game at EURO 2008. All of Germany is dreaming of going to the final but for ‘Merte’, it’s a very special situation. The Werder defender wishes to finally break his semi-final curse.
“It’s quite unbelievable that I have been able to play so many games with the national team at my age. Even more extraordinary is that this is the second semi final I will play with Germany, after the World Cup semi in 2006. Now I really want to win one,” remarked Per Mertesacker defiantly. His will to win is understandable considering that this will be basically the fourth year in a row that the 23 year old will play in the semi-final of a major international competition, but he is yet to make that final hurdle.
On 25.06.2005, three years to the day he will face Turkey this Wednesday, ‘Merte’ was in the semi-final of the Confed Cup against Brazil – out!! The then Hanover 96 man lost 3:2 to Ronaldinho, Adriano, Robinho & Co. A year later there was the semi-final exit in the World Cup at the hands of Italy – 2:0 thanks to two goals deep into the second period of extra-time. The lofty defender was on the pitch over the complete 120 minutes and proved one of Germany’s best. In 2007 he was in touching distance of the UEFA Cup final with Werder. The Green-Whites lost out to Espanyol Barcelona – ‘Merte’ didn’t play himself in the semi final following a cartridge operation.
But on Wednesday night he is hoping to put all of that behind him. ‘Merte’ wants a place in the final and is well aware of the euphoria that progression would carry with it: “The pictures following the Portugal game say it all. You could see the joy within the team because of that success. It was a very emotional situation and it reminded me of the feeling after the 2006 World Cup win over Argentina in the quarter final.” And the pictures from Basel on Wednesday night could be very similar: “We have the greatest chance within touching distance now. The way to the final always looked for long and far away, now suddenly we only need to win one more game,” acknowledged Merte. Should they succeed, then Per Mertesacker will finally have reached his first major international final.