Gotze targets successful World Cup

Mario Gotze is determined to impress after being handed a starting spot in the Germany team for the 2014 World Cup by Joachim Low.

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Gotze, 22, played a central role in the 4-0 demolition of Portugal, including winning the penalty from which Germany took the lead.

The German public have high expectations of the midfielder, but instead of being daunted by the pressure on his shoulders he wants to use it to spur him on.

He told kicker: "Of course, that's an honour [that the public expects more], but I can't please everybody. The most important thing is that I reach my goals with the team, and my personal goals.

"I have great ambitions; it's my first World Cup. I have played Bundesliga and Champions League for a number of years now. Now I want to show what I can do here in Brazil."

"It's important to me that I can play. The first World Cup is something special, and moreover you don't get too many chances to play this tournament in your career."

His personal goal for the World Cup is "to score as many goals as possible and help the team."

In his first season at Bayern, despite an injury hampering his progress at first, Gotze scored 15 goals and set up 12 more in 45 appearances, 30 of them as a starter and now he wants to make the same kind of impact for the national team.

"I am not necessarily satisfied. Satisfaction is always stagnation. But the numbers are okay. But of course, I want to achieve more," Gotze said. "But I am that self-confident to say that the stats are okay.

Gotze's progress has been questioned because of his failure to hold down one position as his own, but he is happy with his achievements to date.

He added: "I have only turned 22 and have already won seven titles, I don't get the discussion [about his perspective in football]."