Gosens gives Germany a boost
Print Edition
No one told Germany winger Robin Gosens the etiquette for receiving a 鈥渟tar of the match鈥 trophy at the European Championship.
鈥淪hould I take that thing with me or what?鈥 he asked after being singled out for his performance in the 4-2 victory over defending champion Portugal in Munich on Saturday.
Gosens was still trying to come to terms with what happened after helping Germany turn its chances around at Euro 2020.
鈥淚t鈥檚 gigantic, you can鈥檛 put it in words,鈥 said Gosens, who scored one goal and was involved in setting up two more in Saturday鈥檚 game. 鈥淚f you look back on my career or the way I鈥檝e gone, I think it鈥檚 simply indescribable and will stay in the memory forever. It鈥檚 definitely an evening I鈥檒l never forget.鈥
It was just his ninth appearance for Germany after making his debut last year.
Gosens seemingly came from nowhere to get there. He never played for any of Germany鈥檚 youth teams, forgoing the usual route of carefully managed and nurtured development for the country鈥檚 brightest soccer stars. The 26-year-old defender took a windy road and left it late to shine at Italian club Atalanta.
Born to a German mother and Dutch father in the border town of Emmerich, Gosens played for local youth teams and Dutch clubs Vitesse and Heracles 鈥 a trial at Borussia Dortmund didn鈥檛 work out 鈥 before moving to Italy in 2017.
It鈥檚 there that Gosens really blossomed under Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who helped turn the team from relegation candidate to regular Champions League participant after three straight top-3 finishes in Serie A.
Gasperini demands a lot from his players in a 3-4-3 formation, where the tireless Gosens has thrived as a left back or winger.
Germany coach Joachim Loew has been using the same formation at Euro 2020. Gosens started the games against France and Portugal on the left, and can expect another run there in the final group game against Hungary on Wednesday.
鈥淲e value him in the team and as coaches very much because he鈥檚 very, very open, very active in communication,鈥 Loew said. 鈥淗e has a very good relationship with all the players, is somehow clear in his head, very straightforward.
鈥淗e is a guy like the game he plays, everything with clear lines, throw everything into the balance, the way he plays with unbridled commitment, and fights for things that are important to him.鈥
Loew noted how Gosens had been scoring goals for Atalanta and said he had been observing the player for the last two years. Gosens made his Germany debut in a 1-1 draw with Spain on September 3. He scored his first goal for Germany in the 7-1 rout of Latvia before the tournament on June 7.
鈥淗e asserted himself pretty quickly with us and has a good foothold in the team,鈥 Loew said.
Gosens made a strong start against Portugal, volleying in Joshua Kimmich鈥檚 cross. But the goal was ruled out because Serge Gnabry was offside and deemed to have interfered with play.
Gosens simply carried on against Portugal and forced an own-goal from off Ruben Dias, set up Kai Havertz for Germany鈥檚 third, and then scored the fourth.
鈥淚t was just a dream come true for me,鈥 Gosens said. 鈥淚 think if you鈥檙e permitted to compete at the European Championship for your country, that鈥檚 one thing. And if you can contribute in such an important game toward continuing in the tournament, then that鈥檚 the next level again. And yeah, it鈥檚 magic.鈥
Gosens was then given the 鈥渟tar of the match鈥 trophy. It might not be his last.
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