Germany´s Gomez not psyched out says Loew

Germany manager Joachim Loew has insisted he’s not asked misfiring forward Mario Gomez to seek psychiatric help in a bid to cure the Stuttgart striker’s problems in front of goal.

Gomez has not scored for his country for over a year, a run of 13 games, and was booed off by fans in Leipzig last weekend after failing to find the target in a 4-0 win over minnows Liechtenstein.

But Loew said he intended to play Gomez in Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier against Wales here at the Millennium Stadium.

“I have not asked Gomez to see a psychiatrist, it is something for him to decide if he takes advantage of the squad’s psychiatrist,” Loew told reporters here on Tuesday.

“I have spoken to Mario a couple of times since the weekend, just to see how he feels and he is calm and collected about things.

“He was disappointed with himself and with the fans who booed him off the pitch. But he is okay now about things. I told him we were happy with his work-rate and effort and that being a striker is not all about scoring goals.

“He has to set up chances for others and work for the team, and he is doing that. But he is not dejected, he is a good professional and you can bet on me playing him against Wales.

“He is getting plenty of support from inside the camp, he has certainly not been ‘hung out to dry’ in terms of taking criticism.

“We have told him we are happy with him and the work he puts in, sacrificing himself for the team.”