Raum discusses art of crossing and tattooing at DFB presser

RB Leipzig fullback David Raum's wild career ride continues. From the unrivaled starting left back of the German national team to a reserve player for both club and country, the 26-year-old made it clear at a Thursday DFB presser that his career path had prepared him for his current role on Julian Nagelsmann's bench.

"In Fürth, I sat on the bench for three years when I was between 19-and-21-years-old," Raum remarked, "I make no demands, instead trying to impose myself with my performance. Everyone here wants to play, but everyone also knows their role."

Raum may very well get the starting nod over Stuttgart's Maximilian Mittelstädt following his role in Niclas Füllkrug's late equalizer against Switzerland on Sunday night. Füllkrug anointed him a "crossing God". Raum eschewed the title, preferred to speak on the technical aspects of a cross. 

"There are so many different ways to cross," Raum mused, "Is one on the baseline or an overlap? Are you in a half-space? Are you coming from a full sprint or have you been played through? Is the center occupied or are the players running in first? Is the opponent's line high or low?"

"We could go through all the possible scenarios," Raum continued, "It's important that you have good contact before the cross so that the ball is well placed. Then you have to see who is in the middle and how the players want to receive the ball. Then you bring the ball sharply in front of goal ahead of the keeper."

"Then you close your eyes and hope that someone in the middle will get the ball in," Raum concluded, "I know that Fülle [Füllkrug] loves it when I put the ball in front of him, maybe giving him time to separate from the defenders. His outstanding heading game takes care of the rest." 

Raum's assist on Füllkrug's equalizer is already evoking comparisons to the David Odonkor-Oliver Neuville co-production that enabled Germany to snatch a late win against Poland in the second group-stage-game of the 2006 World Cup; the last German-hosted major international known as the "Sommermärchen."

Raum emphasized that he was "fired up" and "ready for more" ahead of the round-of-16 encounter against Denmark in Dortmund on Saturday, also insisting that he expected to be on the bench where he could "develop a feel for the game" and "mentally prepare" to enter onto the pitch. 

Füllkrug's labeling of him generated a laugh at the presser as journalists utilized the opportunity to question Raum about his infamous tattoos. Raum's "living the dream" tattoo accompanied his rise to the top in 2022. Would there be some more ink spilled after this historic moment? 

"Self-aggrandizement sucks in all forms," Raum said, "Funny that Fülle said that, but of course I see it as a compliment."

A European Championship trophy on his "body canvas"? Raum laughed off that question as well. There are, the player insisted, no set future tattoo plans. Raum did reveal that he liked the art form so much that he once tried to teach himself how to tattoo.

"I actually ordered my own machine once and started practicing on artificial skin," Raum said, "But I didn't want to try on myself or anyone else."