by Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- The German national team's base camp in Herzogenaurach, a quiet Bavarian town built around a leading sports equipment supplier, has become something of a fortress - one that seems to shield Florian Wirtz.
The 22-year-old has been largely kept from media duties but is thriving under the protective setup as the squad's youngest star.
At ease and smiling during training, the Liverpool forward appears to have shed the weight of the headlines that have followed him in England.
Mocked as Liverpool's new "007," the former Bayer Leverkusen playmaker and 150-million-euro signing "is feeling free and unburdened while he is here, I can see that every day," Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said ahead of the 2014 World Cup winners' 2026 qualifier against Northern Ireland on Monday.
After failing to score or assist in his first seven matches for Liverpool, the unflattering nickname - "zero goals, zero assists, seven games" - was popularized by the British media.
"To get it right, no other Premier League player delivered as many passes leading to chances as he did," Nagelsmann said. According to Opta data, Wirtz has produced 22 key passes in 10 matches.
Teammates such as former Arsenal striker Serge Gnabry and Bayern Munich's Joshua Kimmich insist they see no sign that Wirtz "is not feeling well."
"This will work out in the new league, but it will take time," said Gnabry, who urged Wirtz not to doubt his abilities. Kimmich revealed he had called the forward in England to offer personal support.
Nagelsmann described Wirtz as "relieved," while German outlet Sport1 likened his time with the national team to "a helpful therapy session in the German shirt."
The publication drew parallels with former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry, who was once nicknamed "007" after a slow start before becoming a club legend.
"He has to get used to the physical game in the Premier League, but he will succeed," Nagelsmann said. German sporting director Rudi Voller added, "In Leverkusen, every ball went to him; in Liverpool, he is running miles without always receiving the ball."
Although Wirtz hit the post but failed to score in Germany's 4-0 win over Luxembourg on Friday, Nagelsmann praised his performance.
"He did well, worked a heel of a lot and triggered several promising chances," the coach said, adding that Wirtz was not to blame for teammates' missed opportunities.
"It's the same in Liverpool. He isn't responsible for missed chances," Nagelsmann noted.
Gnabry said time spent with the national team "has a healing effect."
"He can rely on the perfect mix of quality and mentality," Kimmich added. "This mix will take you straight to the top in the long run." ■
