Günni, many congratulations on your first World Cup call-up. How and when did find out?

Günter: Hansi (Germany head coach Hansi Flick) called me personally. Obviously it was an overwhelming feeling and a really beautiful moment. There was also a kind of nervousness there because I was among the players being considered.

Who did you first tell when you found out?

Before it was made official, I only wanted to tell my closest friends and family. First of all I called my wife and my parents. They were also enormously pleased for me.

There were a lot of competition in your position with players like David Raum and Robin Gosens. What chances did you give yourself of making the squad in the run up?

I have been at a couple of training camps and international games under Hansi Flick, which then obviously gives you a certain hope. Especially with it going so well for the club, and the fact that it has also been a good year for me personally up till now. Also there was also communication with the coach – even if I had not been called up. At the end of the day you never know what the coach will decide in the end. Other players would also definitely have deserved it.

What is your mindset going into the World Cup: The Olympic motto “It’s the taking part that counts”, or are you thinking: If I am there then I also want to play?

Günter: I am a sportsman and footballer through and through. Obviously, I want to get on the pitch. But of course I will also 100% accept whatever role the coach has earmarked me for – no question. We have to grow together as a team. That is the only way to be successful at a tournament like this. I think that we have good characters here in the squad.

What in your view is possible for Germany in principle at this World Cup?

Günter: In my view there is not one clear favourite. I think that there are a lot of teams at a high level and I count Germany as one of the squads in that category. It is about finding a rhythm, a tournament mode. We also have to develop the desire to win every game. If we succeed in doing that then a lot is possible for us as a team.

You have an extremely strenuous first half of the season behind you with the Bundesliga, DFB Pokal and Europa League. You have played almost exclusively double gameweeks. How full is the tank still – or does that not play a role if as a professional football you have the opportunity to play in a World Cup for Germany?

 It has been tiring up till now, yeah. Though It has not been as long as it would be at the end of a complete season. We still now have an extremely important home game in the Bundesliga against Union Berlin. I will once again throw everything into that game. Then I set off straight away, first in the direction of Oman and then on to Qatar. Until that point there is still enough time to fill up the tank once again so that you can be at 100% on the pitch.

We wish you plenty of success with that! Many thanks for the chat.