Wolfsburg striker: "A World Cup win makes you grow as a person"

Andre Schuerrle was the man that supplied the cross for the winning goal in the 2014 World Cup final when Germany beat Argentina 1-0 in Brazil. The 25-year old striker is one of the best known faces at the 2015 German Cup winners VfL Wolfsburg, which will start a China tour on May 16. "A World Cup win makes you grow as a person," said Schuerrle in a recent interview with Xinhua.

Xinhua: Mr. Schuerrle we hope you have a good memory.

Schuerrle: (laughing) Let's see, but I'm confident.

Xinhua: Do you remember the seconds before you played that brilliant pass to Mario Goetze in the 2014 World Cup final?

Schuerrle: (laughing) It was a unique moment you'll won't forget for the rest of your life. Running down the line, raising my head to get an idea of what was going on in the box, spotting Mario Goetze, crossing the ball with his coordinates in my head and then him scoring that great goal for the history books. It was absolutely amazing.

Xinhua: Did you know right away when the ball left your foot, this is going to be it?

Schuerrle: You think about situations that could decide the game before kick-off or in a short break during the game. You're always waiting for situations like that in a tight game. Neither of the teams makes many chances and you try to be ready when the moment comes. While it is going on, you are in a kind of tunnel totally focused on the moment and what you are doing.

Xinhua: Remembering the World Cup and Germany winning it, one thing was remarkably obvious: the team-spirit. Is it something football teams can plan?

Schuerrle: You can hardly plan something like that to a full extent, but you can maybe influence it by choosing players you think will work together well. I'm sure that our coach Joachim Loew is a somebody who values team-building measures. But in general, team-spirit develops in the pre-tournament training camp when a squad tries to gel and get focused on one goal. Sometimes tight games during a tournament help bond teams. Everything has to done with the team in mind.

Xinhua: We talked about the seconds before you crossed for Goetze to score. What about the seconds after?

Schuerrle: It was pure emotions. You know exactly how long you have to go until the final whistle is blown. We knew it can't be long at that moment. You turn into a team that is saving their lives, you try to be everywhere on the pitch in order to defend your lead, be first to get up to headers, close your opponents down quickly. It is pure adrenalin. We had seven or eight minutes to go until the end. It was pure will and determination in all of us to finish the job.

Xinhua: When after the final whistle was blown, did you realize what happened?

Schuerrle: At first, it's a kind of relief you feel in every part of your body. No more games to play, we have crossed the finish line in first place, it's all over. But you don't realize initially that you are world champions. You have no idea that one billion people around the globe watched the final and that a footballer's biggest dream has just come true.

Xinhua: Did an experience like that change you as a person or a football professional in any way?

Schuerrle: Maybe not in one's fundamental structure as a human being, but it is no doubt an experience that has an influence on your personality. Having been part of something special like that makes you grow and develops your personality. Not only that, everyone is talking about you, that you have been part of, let's say, a historical moment in sport, but your confidence grows and helps you to face future challenges.

Xinhua: Many of those that have won such a special tournament like a World Cup often talk about the time after and the difficulties involved. After all, you have to get back to normal everyday life somehow and that it might take a while?

Schuerrle: When you get back after two or three weeks of vacation and recovery, you get back to your club and you have to concentrate on the next season and a new challenge, which is hard I can tell you. It might sound weird but it's certainly not easy. You feel new motivation, your head seems to be ready for a new challenge, but you at the same time feel that little parts are missing. You have to learn to deal with a success like that.

Xinhua: Opponents might also feel an extra motivation to beat a world champion?

Schuerrle: A title like that makes things more intense for your opponents too. Games against the world champion are festivals and, in some ways, the game of the year. Teams have respect and maybe use more defensive tactics that usual. You don't win any games just because you won a World Cup. To a certain extent you start right from the bottom.

Xinhua: So from your perspective the atmosphere within a team and the team's relationship with their coach plays a vital role. Many say Joachim Loew did a good job on that?

Schuerrle: Especially for a national team, this is important and Joachim Loew is a big believer. To know how to deal with all individual players is part of his working strategy. Team-spirit is the key to success. There are many examples through the course of football history. Even so-called underdogs can achieve a lot when their mentality makes them work hard.

Xinhua: Looking at the 2016 European Championship in France, Germany won't be considered as underdogs. Expectations are high. Is Germany ready to win the title or does a world champion have to win the title?

Schuerrle: Of course we want to win the European Championship. We know we have a lot of quality. But as you know there are several teams that can win the tournament. We'll have to do some intensive work before the tournament starts. But everyone in the team is looking forward to France.

Xinhua: Who are the favorites besides Germany - the usual suspects?

Schuerrle: I think so. Hosts France will have an extremely strong team. Spain, Italy, Belgium and the young team from England will play a vital role. A European Championship has always been a tournament with many teams that are capable of winning the trophy.

Xinhua: We talked about the time after a big success - what about your club VfL Wolfsburg? Last season Wolfsburg finished second in the league and won the German Cup.

Schuerrle: It might be one of the reasons, but you have to look deeper to explain our performance this season. The team squad changed and it took a while to reassemble. We have missed out on qualifying for Europe next year and will have to take a close look as to how we can get back on the international stage again. The players and the club will have to learn their lesson, but I'm sure we'll be back soon. Wolfsburg is one of the important football locations in Germany.

Xinhua: Looking at the second half of the 2015/2016 Bundesliga season, it's obvious you are back in top form after rather a difficult time after the World Cup.

Schuerrle: I feel, I'm on a good track after a hard year in 2015. But I feel confident after the goal I scored in the Bundesliga and the Champions League, but of course there is still some work ahead. But as I said I'm confident of being able to help the team. For us as a club, it was far from being a successful season, but we have to learn from it and get back to the top as soon as possible.

Xinhua: Looking at the 2015/2016 Champions League campaign, VfL Wolfsburg was among the best eight teams in Europe pushing a world class team like Real Madrid all the way. In Wolfsburg you beat Real 2-1 and in the re-match Real had to work extremely hard to advance to the semi-finals. How important were the games for your club and for you personally?

Schuerrle: Very important. Looking at our situation in the Bundesliga, not many people expected us to challenge Real seriously, but we did. It was a sign for the future that Wolfsburg can develop into a strong team. Many football fans around the world took notice of our performance against Real and saw we can challenge the leading clubs in world football.

Xinhua: This Monday your club will travel to China to play two games within a week. Have you ever been to China?

Schuerrle: I have never been there so next week will be my first time in China.

Xinhua: What do you expect and how is your Chinese?

Schuerrle: (laughing) There won't be enough time to learn the language unfortunately. But we will get to know the people and the country a little bit better I hope. Of course we won`t get to know the entire country as China is a big, big country with a long history and a unique culture. I know from others sports that China has a lot of passion for sport in general and that football enthusiasm is growing fast. We as VfL Wolfsburg want to be part of everything and pay back to our fans over there. For us players, it' s important to come into closer contact with our fans as we know that many people follow us around the year. I receive a lot of fan mail from China, which makes me very proud. I' m very much looking forward to our time in China. Endit