Low under fire after ‘wake-up call’

JOACHIM LOW took a stroll along the beach in Sochi’s blazing sunshine yesterday but the heat will have felt a lot less intense for the coach than the inquest that has followed the dismal start to Germany’s defence of the World Cup.

From a crisis meeting between players and staff, to growing questions over their controversial choice of training base and mounting calls for Mesut Ozil to be dropped, the fallout from Sunday’s shock 1-0 defeat by Mexico has been brutal.

No punches were pulled during a crisis meeting between the players, Low and Oliver Bierhoff, Germany’s general manager, on Tuesday, as they probed for answers ahead of Saturday’s clash with Sweden.

Manuel Neuer admitted that he had never heard so many frank words exchanged during his nine years with the national team, and the prolonged inquiry prompted him to turn up 50 minutes late for a scheduled press conference.

“We didn’t mince words, because we want to make things better against Sweden,” the Germany goalkeeper said. “We talked a lot. We’re our harshest critics. It was a wake-up call – there has never been such strong words within the team.”

Ozil could yet be granted a reprieve by Low, who has long been a staunch supporter, but there were former German players lining up to take potshots at the mercurial Arsenal playmaker yesterday. “Ozil’s body language is like that of a dead frog, it’s pathetic,” Mario Basler, a Euro 96 winner, told German television.