Lukas Podolski

When I'm on the pitch, I'm happy. I can shut everything else out.

My best position is in the middle, and if I am asked to play there, I can do it.

When you are a footballer, you will not always play 90 minutes. Sometimes you are not happy, but this is not important for me.

I am pleased for Poland as a country, that new motorways are being constructed, new businesses, new stadiums.

I have celebrated major successes with Germany on the pitch, but not only that, I have experienced so much off the pitch too, visiting countries and cities all over the world.

It's not easy in England. It's so competitive.

I've known Mesut for a long time now. I love to play with him, and I think he loves to play with me. We complement each other quite well.

If you can't do what you want to do in your life, then it is difficult.

When you are young and you play football, you must play in the street. When you go to a club at the age of five, and the coach says you must pass this, eat this, drink this... it's not a life. Young people must train for themselves, play football every day, and not have three coaches, with each one saying this and this.

Every tournament and every international game played gives you additional experience which brings you forward, both on the pitch and off it, but there is nothing more special than playing a World Cup on home soil.

Arsene Wenger is a good coach. He has authority, and straight away, I can see he helps players with small things to make them better.

If I am at 100 percent fitness, I do not fear any competition for places in the first 11.