Rebel Kuranyi hoping for World Cup redemption

Ex-Germany striker Kevin Kuranyi is hoping his recent good performances for Schalke 04 will help convince national coach Joachim Loew to select the rebel forward for next year’s World Cup.

“The question for me is: how can I manage to change another person’s opinion?” Kuranyi told football magazine 11 Freunde.

“This is not just about coach of the national team Loew and the player Kuranyi and I hope that I one day I will get a new chance.”

The chances of Kuranyi being on the plane to South Africa for next summer’s World Cup are slim after he walked out at half-time of Germany’s 2-1 win over Russia in October 2008 during a World Cup qualification match.

The 27-year-old was left out of the matchday squad and stormed out of the stadium in Dortmund before asking a friend to collect his possessions from the team hotel.

He later apologised to Loew for his conduct, but the Germany coach has repeatedly said he will not select Kuranyi again for Germany despite the Schalke forward’s 19 goals for his country in 52 international matches.

With eight goals to his credit in 15 league matches this season, Kuranyi netted in last weekend’s 2-0 win over Werder Bremen which put his side second in the table behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen.