Football: Euro 2012 title or nothing for Podolski

BERLIN: Arsenal-bound striker Lukas Podolski has said Germany must aim to win Euro 2012 ‘and nothing else’ when they bid to be crowned champions of Europe for the fourth time next month. Germany open their campaign against Portugal on June 9, but Podolski said the aim of Joachim Loew’s squad has to be winning the final. Poland-born Podolski was very clear when asked about Germany’s goals for a tournament they last won in England in 1996. “The title, nothing else,” he told Cologne. “In the last few years it has always been said that when we manage to reach the semi-finals, that is already some success. I think before the tournament starts we can say we are ready to play for the title.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 20^th, 2012.