GERMANY ARE INTO the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup largely thanks to striker Timo Werner, who starred against Cameroon on Sunday.
The 21-year-old scored twice for his country – his very first goals at senior level – but while the youngster should be revelling in his impressive performances, there is a real concern: his own fans relentlessly boo him.
Werner scored 21 goals in the Bundesliga in the 2016/2017 season – the highest tally of any German player in the domestic top-flight.
But, two things count against him.
Firstly, he plays for RB Leipzig – the most-hated club in Germany.
Secondly, he was involved in a blatant diving incident last December in a game against Schalke that led to him consistently being booed for the remainder of the campaign.
Six months on, it appears German supporters remain irritated by one or both of the above.
Werner is the only representative from his club in the German squad, having made his international debut in March.
In many ways, he’s exactly what Germany need. Maybe what they’ve needed ever since Miroslav Klose’s body finally began to give up.
Werner is a penalty-area poacher and a cool, calm finisher and he, at last, provides Jogi Loew with some options in attack.
Still, fans are not behind him.
In a World Cup qualifier against San Marino earlier this month, Werner was booed. Afterwards, Loew sprang to his player’s defence.
“There was a dive once, he made a mistake, and he admitted he was wrong,” the German coach said.
“But we are talking about a very young player here. Someone who plays for the national team, is only at the start of his career and who has scored 21 goals in one season in the Bundesliga should not be jeered and whistled. That is simply not okay.”
But it was Werner who changed the narrative somewhat, believing his dive wasn’t the reason for the abuse, more a convenient excuse.
“People are making a big thing out of it just because I play for RB Leipzig.”
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Vindication for Ronaldo???! All this game was prove what I always thought; a great goal scorer but sadly also a great cheat? Did he break ribs tonight, his actions would portray he did! Did Macherano actually touch him with his awful tackle in final 10mins? No, but he still fell and rolled around holding his leg! If only he cut out this play acting then, and only then, can you say he’s vindicated! A terrible example of a former world player of the year!
Messi does that aswell
Jimmy club foot in the conference does it…. they all bloody do it.
I truly admire Barcelona as a club. Nevertheless, I must confess I’m sick with the Barcelonitis overdose imposed on us by every commentator. Week after week, time and time again, we’re all forced to watch the Messi & Guardiola orgasms reached live on RTE by the likes of Dunphy and Gilles. As a football fan I long for competitive competitions, and I’m glad we found a serious contender like Madrid is proving to be.
The other aspect I would like to stress is the total lack of respect for Ronaldo, Mourinho and so forth. I’m not even a huge Ronaldo fan myself, but I can watch football without a good pair of Blaugrana spectacles. I don’t even care if Messi is better than Ron or vice versa, but I know one thing: Ronaldo is not pampered, loved, and buttered by everyone. He’s a goal scoring machine and he’s able to do so in the most adverse environments. Only someone that mentally strong could keep scoring under severe criticism, booed everywhere and by everyone ( Madrid’s supporters included).
With regard to Jose, I honestly believe that comparing him to Guardiola is intellectually deshonest. Here there’s no room for taller and stronger, better headers or free-kicks. Guardiola has only managed Barcelona B and Barcelona. He inherited a team that had recently won a champions league. He only managed one club and only in Spain. Jose Mourinho has won 7 titles in 3 different countries ( Spain to follow) 2 CL with FC Porto and Internazionale + a Uefa cup. And let’s not forget that daylight robberies that deprived him from 2 more finals (Chelsea v Liverpool – Barcelona Real Madrid ). He is the most successful coach in the history of football, whether you like it or not.
I believe that would be Sir Alex!
Chelsea v Liverpool = daylight robbery? Would you stop. Ghost goal or whatever you may call it, it’s not like Chelsea where 5-0 up and someone shot their players. It was a super tight game and Garcia played the ball over the line (at least nearly over!). It was most definitely not daylight robbery.
Henry against Ireland was daylight robbery, not Chelsea’s miserable excuse for loosing to Liverpool.
I’d prefer to see the pundits having orgasms over Xavi and Messi than Nani and Rooney any day. I don’t know how people could get sick of watching this team when they’re at their best. Its not even football, its closer to a work of art if anything.
And there’s no way Mourinho is the most successful coach in the history of football. Paisley, Fergie, Capello, Sacchi, too name but a few. He’s well on his way but still has a bit to go.
After 4 years winning almost everything it seems that when you lose one match is the end of the world but I trust in these guys.
Barcelona supporters being younger than 9 y.o. are not used to this and their parents have the difficult task to explain them that Barça cannot always win.
To be fair, though, Diari, the point is that Barca were considered to be the best of all time precisely because they never lost big games. If they are starting to, that is a sign of a slip. But that doesn’t mean it is a fatal slip. They could well actually enhance their legacy this year by retaining the Champions League.
Yes,but Miguel..that is the second game in which Ronaldo has performed versus Barca..he has been missing during the bigger games against them for 2 seasons,2 champs league games last season,2 super cup games in August,la liga game in december..Messi has dominated the outcome of 80% of El Clasico games practically.The barometer will really be 19th May..unless Ronaldo is on the winning side that day,he will still be no.2 player in the world for some time to come..and he is 9 goals behind Messi who is on 63 for the season.
Indeed, a very good finish..such are the margins of football..a wonderful Messi assist for Xavi’s chance that should have been converted and it’s a whole different story.Madrid were tactically astute,but Barca have been conceding a lot more this season generally at home as well as Away.It is difficult to keep up such form and they certainly have lapsed and Madrid are definitely the form team.However,19th May will decide it all..if Ronaldo goes missing on that night..April 21st wont count for much.
Jose is a great manager but not anywhere near the greatest, that honour surely belongs to sir Alex, after Porto Jose only managed teams that were almost complete and with buckets of cash to spend. Win domestically and in Europe with Aberdeen and then take a team that didn’t win a league in nearly 30 years to winning league titles for fun for over 20 years and 2 cl titles, then Pedro you have the greatest ever.
As far as I can remember, he won in Europe with FC Porto 17 years after their last European title and won the premier league with Chelsea after what? 50 years? Totally ruled the premier league and completely over shadowed Sir Alex. He also managed to win a CL with Internazionale after almost 60 years.
I acknowledge the fact that Sir Alex’s career is somewhat unique but we’re talking about someone that has been managing the same club for the past 25 years, whereas Mourinho was able to adapt to different kinds of football, mentalities, players and media coverage.
And please don’t throw the buckets of money excuse. That was at Chelsea and not with Internazionale and surely not at Porto or Madrid. And even Chelsea was not a complete team, details as follows: Carvalho, Malouda, Kalou, Essien, Obi Mikel, Ferreira, Robben, Drogba, Cole, etc all played decisive roles in Chelsea’s success and they’re all Mourinho’s transfers. If money was the solution, City would be THE top team in Europe, would it not?
Having said all of that, it all comes down to personal preferences. I’d rather have Mourinho as manager, but I would easily understand anyone that would rather go for Sir Alex, Wenger or Guardiola, although I reiterate everything I wrote about Mourinho’s versatility and capacity to win internal and international competitions with different clubs in several countries. And those are the facts.
Viva Ronaldo!!! (just born at the same time as Messi!)
Barca saved their players 4 Chelsea n ronaldo did what he does runs into space but cannot get throu packed defences n Madrid will be knocked out by Munich on wednesday nyt while Barca will beat chelski
Really? I don’t agree with you on Ronaldo there, he has always, in particular whilst in England, been criticised as being a flat track bully. Weaker teams tend to drop off United and now Real into packed defences. Against stronger sides in big games he has been hammered for going missing, they tend to push up onto you to try and try and win the gamr due to their increased confidence and ability.
Maybe so, but the rot is setting in , teams like this start to believe their own
press Unbeatable ! Unstoppable ! Greatest team ever! They are only human after all and it was only a matter of time before they as individuals take their eye off the ball and believe that Messi will always score or someone else will score to win the game . They start to rely on an individual to win it rather then the team itself and it’s not surprising with the amount of trophies they have won in the last 3-4 yrs.
Barca had a few out missing tonight through injury or resting for midweek. Their defence tonight said everything. Macherano and busquets apart of a 3 man defence. Their shape was all over the place. saying that the team did look tired overall. Barca will be back next year. They just need at least 3 decent defenders for cover and they will be back firing.
Delighted Barca got beaten by Real even Messi was starting to lose his temper towards the end. I wonder will Jose stick with them next season or move on?
He is waiting for united job. Martin O’Neill number 2 … Dream team ;-)
Oh god know, I hope my theory than Fergie is bionic and will carry on for ever is true just to keep that man away from my club!!
No even!! Early in the morning wrong word shocker for me there!!
Pep is the next United manager, I dont think it will the Jose.
As much as I love united I can’t see why he would leave this Barca team for us, I think it’ll be Moyes
Pep will leave Barca.
My comment was tongue in cheek, pep will leave barca tho, he knows team is coming to its end.
Messi didnt lose his temper..arbeloa had a kick at him and i suppose he reacted like anyone else would..but i didnt see him get a yellow card did you?or dive around the place like ronaldo does?or arrogantly celebrate goals like ronaldo does?..perhaps thats why people actually admire Messi above Ronaldo..he tends to score more goals,win more and also act humble unlike Ronaldo.
I think people are jumping the gun with Barca being on the way down. Unfortunately, it is down to fatigue. Four years at the top as well as the core of their team also being the core of the Spanish team too, they basically haven’t had a rest in 4-5 years. Add to that the fact that they don’t have the strongest squad of players to compliment the top 13 or 14 at the club. They could easily go out and make 3 top class signings in the summer and next September they’d be getting lauded as the greatest of all time again. Its going to be interesting to see how they finish the season and what happens with Pep.
A Real Madrid fan wrote the above
Hala Madrid!
you have to admire the way Barcelona play the game, a pure joy to watch whether you support them or not! an example for every other club anywhere!
Fond of cheating, diving, theatrics and complaining. Yes, they play the game SO well.
And Ashley young doesnt dive?
United fans need to get over Wembly last year.
Yes, I think its a fact that Ashley young dives. Nobody is complaining about Wembley last year, or Rome two years before that – least of all me. Barca play a superb passing game & ruin it fannying about on the deck.
He runs down the left he runs down the riiiiiight, that boy Ronaldo makes England look shite!! He’s a bit like Darth Vadar Ronaldo these days, he may be on the dark side but he isn’t half brilliant!!
Cheating is endemic in football..anyone last night watching would have seen Di Maria dive to win two frees.Barcelona do it also,Alexis being their most consistent diver.Madrid have had a good season,but Barcelona have won the title 3 years running,so the Champions League would tend to be the more important competition for them..it is hardly a rot..perhaps a blip..but if they retain the Champions League..most people wont be talking about not having won La Liga..Real Madrid got their tactics spot on..but hard to see Barca losing another game this season.Fabregas and Alexis werent started which suggests that Pep is looking towards Tuesday as the crucial game in their season..Ronaldo is having a magnificient season..54 goals is it?..but still has some way to eclipse Messi..who is on…63 for the season..Messi couldnt be faulted last night..he was instrumental in the equaliser and set up Xavi who missed a sitter..