Gross: I believe in my own strengths

Pascal Gross admits that the ‘glimmer of hope’ that he’d one day get the chance to play for his country has been one of the ‘driving forces’ behind his consistent form for Albion.

Gross got his wish earlier this season and scored his first goal for his country on Friday, netting in the 89th minute as Germany beat Greece 2-1 in Moenchengladbach as the midfielder won his seventh cap.

He said, “My journey has been quite unique after moving from Ingolstadt to England [in 2017].

“The glimmer of hope I had that I’d one day get a call from the national team coach always drove me on to perform, but there have been other driving forces too.

“I really love football and I enjoy going to training every day. I know that I’m really lucky that my hobby has become my job. The fact that I’m sitting here right now makes me extremely proud.”

Gross stood in for Toni Kroos against Ukraine in Monday's goalless draw and says his role in the team has been clearly defined by coach Julian Nagelsmann.

“I took the conversation [I had with the coach] as a positive one,” he added. “I immediately accepted my role and understood it. The coach also knows that I’ll train hard every day to make sure I’m ready for when I’m needed.

“I believe in my own strengths. I’ve got a lot of confidence in myself and my teammates.”

Germany open the tournament on 14 June against Scotland in Munich.