Freiburg's Ginter impresses again and hopes to make World Cup squad
Freiburg's Matthias Ginter reacts during the UEFA Europa League round of 16 soccer match between SC Freiburg and KRC Genk at Europa-Park Stadium. Silas Stein/dpa Defender Matthias Ginter has not given up hope of making the German World Cup squad after another strong performance for his club Freiburg. Ginter helped Freiburg keep a clean sheet and headed the final goal in a 3-0 Europa League quarter-final first leg victory over Celta Vigo on Thursday night.
Coach Julian Schuster was full of praise, naming Ginter's performance "impressive" and that "it doesn't get any better than this. " The 32-year-old has 51 Germany caps and was a member of Germany's World Cup winning squad in 2014. But his last match dates back almost three years to a 3-3 draw with Ukraine.
He said he was disappointed not to have made the squad for last month's friendlies against Switzerland and Ghana but coach Julian Nagelsmann said the door remained open regarding the squad for World Cup in summer. "I try to influence the things I can," Ginter said on Thursday, adding that playing for Germany was "the greatest thing. " Former Germany captain Lothar Matthäus said in his role as TV pundit that Ginter had played an "outstanding" match on Thursday and that he would "definitely" take Ginter to the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Ginter has played in 43 of Freiburg's 44 season matches, and team-mate Vincenzo Grifo named him "an outstanding player who leads the way and confirms his performance week by week. "