Mario Gotze could make an incredible Germany comeback – three years since his last cap and six years after his World Cup-winning goal – as Joachim Low opens the door for star’s return after rediscovering his form at PSV
- Germany’s Joachim Low has opened the door for Mario Gotze to make a return
- The ex-Dortmund and Bayern ace has not played for the national team since 2017
- Gotze scored the winner in the 2014 World Cup final but his form went downhill
- Now at PSV Eindhoven, Gotze has impressed and Low says the door is open
Germany manager Joachim Low has opened the door for Mario Gotze to make a possible return to the national team after his impressive start to life at PSV Eindhoven.
The 28-year-old, who scored Germany’s winning goal in the 2014 World Cup final, was a free agent after his contract with Borussia Dortmund expired earlier this year after another frustrating campaign.
His decline in form since scoring in the World Cup final, as well as health problems, continued on his return to Dortmund from Bayern Munich and Gotze only managed 21 appearances last season as the club decided not to offer him a new deal.
Germany manager Joachim Low has hinted Mario Gotze could make an incredible comeback
Low said he had been impressed by Gotze’s form since he signed for PSV on a free transfer
But now Gotze appears to have hit his stride once again after signing for Dutch giants PSV on a free transfer.
They handed Gotze a two-year contract and he has immediately repaid their faith, scoring three goals in six appearances during an impressive start in the Eredivisie.
And Low, whose Germany side take on the Czech Republic, Ukraine and Spain in this month’s international fixtures, insists they are keeping tabs on his progress and they are open to him returning.
He told Sports Buzzer: ‘We don’t lose sight of him, of course.
‘He looks very fresh and very agile, the joy can be seen in him. He needs that for his light-footedness, for his variability.
‘Everything was always focused on him. He had a backpack on with the 2014 goal, which must have been a heavy burden.
‘That’s why I’m happy for him that he has started so well in Eindhoven.’
Gotze scored Germany’s winning goal against Argentina in the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil
Gotze’s last international cap came in a friendly draw against France back in November 2017
Gotze signed a two-year contract with PSV, scoring three goals in six appearances so far
Gotze’s last international cap came in a 2-2 friendly draw against France back in November 2017.
He came off the bench and got 25 minutes, setting up Lars Stindl’s late equaliser.
In total, Gotze has won 63 caps for Germany and has scored 17 goals and contributed 11 assists for Die Mannschaft.
Gotze was lured away from Dortmund by Bayern and Pep Guardiola in the summer of 2013 when he was one of the hottest prospects in European football, but failed to make an impact in Bavaria and returned to his former club in 2016.
Upon his return to Dortmund, Gotze couldn’t recapture his previous form at Signal Iduna Park as he was hit by a host of injury problems and fitness issues – including the muscle disorder myopathy – playing just 15 times in the Bundesliga in his final season.
In May the club announced he would be leaving on a free transfer, with sporting director Michael Zorc calling it ‘a mutual and respectful decision’.
West Ham, Monaco, Sevilla, Fiorentina, AC Milan and Roma were all understood to have expressed interest in the creative midfielder but PSV won the race.