P.Mertesacker - Ozil needs time
Germany defender Per Mertesacker has warned against expecting too much too soon from Mesut Ozil.
The Werder Bremen midfielder impressed in Saturday's 2-0 friendly win over South Africa in Leverkusen, scoring his first international goal, and is already being touted as the successor to Michael Ballack as playmaker.
The 20-year-old has played just three times for Germany, though, and only once in a competitive match.
Less than three months ago, Ozil was a member of the under-21 squad which won the European Championship and club-mate Mertesacker is wary of heaping too much pressure on him.
"It would be, I believe, wrong and still to early to push him into the leading role," he said in an interview on the German FA's official website, dfb.de.
"He has only just come on the scene and needs his freedom. He absolutely has to preserve his carefree nature."
Mertesacker is, though, fully aware of the qualities Ozil brings to the national team.
He added: "He came as a small, shy kid from Schalke to Werder. At the time we were well blessed in the position with Diego (now at Juventus).
"With his formidable strengths he quickly came through. He has a incredible speed on the ball and is technically strong."
Franz Beckenbauer, who led Germany to World Cup glory in 1990, was more glowing in his praise.
He said in the Bild newspaper: "Regardless of the South Africa game: Ozil is a player with an instinct for the situation. And he is a goal threat. The kid can just play football."
Ozil is set to win cap number four when Joachim Low's men host Azerbaijan in a World Cup qualifier in Hanover on Wednesday.
Victory over opponents they beat 2-0 in Baku last month would at least maintain Germany's one-point lead over Russia at the top of Group Four.
Germany travel to Moscow to face the Russians in October in a match that is likely to decide to wins the group, but Mertesacker insists his focus is firmly on an Azerbaijan team coached by former Germany manager Berti Vogts.
"I know that the game against Russia in October is approaching us, but I am really not thinking about that," he said.
"As a professional I have taken to only focusing on the next tasks. First we have to win against Azerbaijan, then comes Moscow."
Bastian Schweinsteiger knows Germany can not afford any slip ups if they are to seal first place in the group.
He said: "Now come the decisive games against Azerbaijan, Russia and Finland. These are the games that we have to win. I am going into Wednesday highly motivated."
Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez is expected to be fit for Wednesday, despite picking up a knee injury against South Africa.
Gomez, who scored at the weekend before coming off at half-time, missed training yesterday morning, but a scan yesterday afternoon revealed no serious damage.
A statement on www.dfb.de said his condition had "clearly improved" overnight.
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