In the early hours of June 20th, Germany defeated Hungary 2-0 in their second group stage match of the European Championship, securing their spot in the round of 16. Barcelona star Ilkay Gundogan put on a stellar performance, earning him the Man of the Match award.
Spanish newspaper AS stated that Gundogan has faced unfair treatment in Germany, but his performance and quality have proven his indispensable role within the German national team.
AS claims that when visiting Germany, travelers often experience its unique cultural charm, but also catch a glimpse of the deeply rooted biases and preferences. In German football, there seems to be a subtle prejudice against anything that surpasses Bayern Munich, transcends the domestic league, or even surpasses the tradition of German football to achieve international glory.
Ilkay Gundogan, a German player of Turkish descent born in Gelsenkirchen, has long faced the challenge of dual identity. Despite his remarkable achievements at Borussia Dortmund, especially winning the historic first Champions League title with Manchester City, these overseas triumphs haven’t completely erased the label of “outsider” attached to him. In the traditional German football perspective, success achieved outside the stage of Bayern and the domestic league sometimes struggles to gain full recognition and resonance. German fans also find it hard to fully grasp the significance of helping Manchester City achieve their first-ever Champions League title.
Therefore, Gundogan’s position in the national team—not just as captain, but often as a starter, especially when entrusted by Hansi Flick with a tactical core role, playing a second striker-like position close to the goal—naturally sparked numerous discussions.
The general belief is that, following the usual script, Bayern’s Leroy Sane would be the preferred choice. However, Nagelsmann’s persistence has made things extraordinary. Gundogan scored one goal and provided one assist in the match against Hungary, and put on another impressive performance in the opening match against Scotland. His actions have answered all doubts and controversies, proving his worth. As for the external suspicions and discussions, let the public opinion digest them.
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