Germany’s Götze makes timely comeback

Given the buzz ahead of Germany’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Poland, many spectators in Frankfurt closely followed Bayern teammates Mario Götze and Robert Lewandowski. Götze, the World Cup hero of 2014, under pressure to show Bayern coach Pep Guardiola that he deserves to be more than a reserve and to put Germany back on course to win qualifying Group D. Lewandowski - Bayern's clear favorite up front and the leader of an overachieving Polish national team that topped Group D going into the match.

Both forwards are fan favorites. Götze may have lost a little of his luster since scoring the goal that won Germany the World Cup, but there was no shortage of Germany fans wearing number 19 jerseys at Friday's match.

"I'm really glad that he’s starting," said one of those fans, Sabine from Baden-Württemberg. "He's one of Germany's best players and I'm sure he's going to show that on the pitch tonight."

When asked for her prediction for the match, Sabine forecast a 4-0 win for Germany, with Götze scoring a brace. Her husband disagreed.

"3-1 for Germany, and Götze will score all the goals," he said with a somewhat beery twinkle in his eye.

A Polish jewel

Polish fans, too, were quite positive about Götze, despite his problems getting into Bayern's regular starting eleven. But they clearly appreciate what a jewel the Polish national team has in Lewandowski.

"Götze and Lewandowski are good friends from their time together in Dortmund under Jürgen Klopp," said Polish supporter Pawel. "They both developed into one of the best players in the world at their respective positions, although Götze has been injured a lot and I'd rate Lewandowski perhaps a bit higher. Even if he's not the best technician player, he's simply so strong physically."

Lewandowski is a classic center forward whereas Götze is a hanging forward who creates pressure with his dribbling skills. Nonetheless, they were both focal points of their respective teams' strategies. Götze's task was to break down the Polish defensive bulwark, while Lewandowski was the target for what Poland hoped would be lightning counterattacks. So it was natural that many fans were asking themselves before the match: Which one of the Bayern teammates would prevail?

A renewed love affair

Götze did indeed play as the lone forward upfront - acting as a mirror image, albeit a much smaller one, of Lewandowski. The first 19 minutes the game seemed to pass him by, a not unfamiliar phenomenon for Germany's number 19, who stood by and watched as Thomas Müller put Die Mannschaft in front. But then his moment arrived. His cut inside and rifled shot to score Germany's second goal were reminiscent of 2010, when the then-19-year-old led Dortmund to the first of two straight Bundesliga titles. "Mario Götze, Mario Götze" blared from the stadium speakers in what must have been balsam for the much-criticized former wunderkind's soul.

Meanwhile, Lewandowski - book-ended by Germany's twin defensive towers, Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels - was also seeing little of the ball. In the end it was his quickness and not his size that helped him break the ice. His 38th minute lifeline against the run of play was the product of him having the pace to get to a cross. For a few minutes the considerable Polish content among the spectators seized acoustic control over the stadium. And Lewandowski would have equalized just before the break were it not for a world-class save by Manuel Neuer.

Impressive comeback

Götze was equally close to his second goal in minute 55, when his curling shot struck the post. Sometimes the difference to becoming a hero is an inch. Götze, in any case, did not look like a player on a months-long run of poor form. And although the goal he scored to seal the match was a put-back, he was good for his brace. It was Götze himself who created the opportunity with another cutting run into the middle. Sabine's husband wasn’t all that far off with his prediction.

There was nothing more for Poland to salvage, and Lewandowski ran out the rest of the match with slumped shoulders. When Götze was substituted out in the waning minutes, the response from the crowd made it clear that the love affair between Germany fans and their prodigal number 19 was most decidedly back on. Lewandowski did not emerge form the match as a loser - he once again showed that he's one of the best forwards in the world. However, Götze was a clear winner, having demonstrated that he’s capable of serving as a lone forward for both Germany and, perhaps, Bayern.

After the final whistle, Lewandowski dutifully gave a couple of interviews in the mixed zone, while Götze was nowhere. A doping test, was the official explanation. But perhaps he simply wanted to enjoy his impressive comeback under pressure in peace.