Schalke's Simon Terodde is once again the focus - but not in the way he would like. Two missed penalties in Wolfsburg "really hurt" the goalscorer. But he can joke again and even thinks of the DFB-Elf - with one special exception.
It was fitting for this used day that the ZDF editorial team of the current sports studio announced their guest as "Simon Terrode", but the hapless goalscorer from Schalke 04 had long since found his humor again on Saturday evening. So Simon Terodde joked about his World Cup chances, claiming that he "didn't qualify for the knockout games plus penalties" - and thus got rid of his frustration at his missed shots in the 0-0 draw in Wolfsburg.
"I'm responsible for the fact that we didn't win. Unfortunately, that's the way it is," admitted the 34-year-old honestly. In added time in the first half, he missed a penalty against VfL goalkeeper Koen Casteels. And Terodde didn't convert the second attempt either - the penalty was repeated because Casteels had left the goal line: "As a centre-forward I'm often the celebrated hero. Today it hurts, really hurts."
He always tries to "take responsibility," said Terodde, admitting: "I'm really disappointed, but there are certainly ways to make up for it." Apparently his team-mates see it that way too, he has "received many encouraging words from my teammates, they don't blame me," reported the veteran.
Because they too will know that without Terodde's goal last season, they would most likely not have played in the Bundesliga. In 2021/22, Terodde S04 scored 30 goals for promotion - and thus played such a focus that there was speculation about his World Cup chances. "I did a lot in the 2nd division, but then we're talking about world class," he said: "If in the end someone else is needed who should somehow head the thing in the 85th minute, then I'm happy to be there."
National coach Hansi Flick himself fueled the debate about Terodde's nomination for the finals in Qatar in winter. "If he performs well and scores his goals, all doors are open," he said in May: "It's outstanding how he's been scoring goals in recent years. He has a good rate." Two missed penalties don't change that.
