Jeers for Gundogan annoy Germany boss Loew

LEVERKUSEN, Germany: Joachim Loew has slammed Germany fans who booed Manchester City star Ilkay Gundogan during Friday’s 2-1 World Cup warm-up victory over Saudi Arabia.

The Germans broke a fivematch winless streak as striker Timo Werner scored and Omar Hawsawi netted an own goal before Taisir Al-Jassim banged home a saved penalty attempt for Saudi Arabia on 85 minutes.

However, head coach Loew was unhappy with the boos and jeers from German fans when Gundogan came on for the final 30 minutes in Leverkusen.

“The fact that a national player is booed like that helps nobody,” Loew told broadcaster ARD. “What should Ilkay do now? “He took a picture, okay, but he has addressed it with the press and underlined his support for German values. “The topic has to be ticked off.” Gundogan caused a political storm last month, along with Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil, by meeting Turkey president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and handing over a Manchester City shirt signed to “my president”.

Both Gundogan, who insists meeting Erdogan was ‘never about making a political statement’, and Ozil, who sat out Friday’s friendly, were born in Gelsenkirchen to Turkish parents.

Loew says the controversy has weighed on both players in recent weeks, “but now the focus must be on moving forward”.

When Gundogan came off the bench, Loew signalled to the Leverkusen crowd to cheer the Man City star, but to no avail.

Before kick-off, Germany’s team director Oliver Bierhoff attacked the German media for constantly bringing up the Erdogan controversy in press conferences. - AFP