Germany's Lukas Podolski: 'Just let Mesut Ozil play'

Lukas Podolski has insisted that Arsenal teammate Mesut Ozil will shine at this World Cup.

Ozil's inconsistency for the Gunners last season after a big-money move from Real Madrid has led to some questioning his place in the German national team.

However, Podolski is certain that Ozil is good enough to start for Die Mannschaft in Brazil.

"Mesut is a world-class player," Podolski said at a press conference today. "[He] has the quality and he's going to give us a lot of pleasure.

"He is going to produce the goods in the months and years to come and people have just got to accept him the way he is. Just let the lad play football."

The Germans begin their World Cup against Portugal on Monday evening.