.png)
German (DE) 
English (US) 
Spanish (ES) 
French (FR) 
Hindi (IN) 
Italian (IT) 
Russian (RU) 
2 hours ago
1
Frankfurt's Mario Goetze cheers with the fans after the UEFA Europa League soccer match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Ajax Amsterdam at Deutsche Bank Park. Arne Dedert/dpa
Eintracht Frankfurt playmaker Mario Götze was showered with praise after his gala performance in the Europa League last-16 win over Ajax Amsterdam.
The man who scored Germany's winner in the 2014 World Cup final has struggled ever since, but two fine goals in Thursday's 4-1 second leg win at home had his bosses purring.
"It shows how important Mario is for our young team. He was a lynchpin in the game," Frankfurt sporting director Markus Krösche told reporters after the 6-2 aggregate victory.
His second goal was a lob from 40 metres out.
Coach Dino Toppmöller added: "He probably shoots like that 10 times out of 10 because he simply has that technique. He deserved a lot of praise and got it."
Despite the plaudits, the 32-year-old remained modest and immediately looked forward to the quarter-finals against Tottenham Hotspur.
"It will be tough. We have to keep at it now," he added.
Frankfurt, 2022 Europa League champions, are also pushing to finish in the Champions League next term and sit fourth in the Bundesliga before Sunday's trip to lowly Bochum.
(L-R)Frankfurt's Can Uzun, Mahmoud Dahoud, Mario Goetze and Ansgar Knauff cheer with the fans after the UEFA Europa League soccer match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Ajax Amsterdam at Deutsche Bank Park. Arne Dedert/dpa
Comments