Kroos slams below-par Germans, but Loew keeps cool
BERLIN: Toni Kroos pointed the finger at his Germany teammates following defeat by Brazil, but coach Joachim Loew insists his team will be ready in time for the World Cup.
Kroos is the latest World Cup winner to berate the Germans for a below-par performance after Gabriel Jesus’ first-half winner sealed Brazil’s 1- 0 friendly win on Tuesday in Berlin.
After Jerome Boateng fumed that “everything” needed improving following Friday’s 1-1 draw with Spain, Kroos again put the boot in.“We had some players on the pitch who had the opportunity to show themselves at this level - they did not take it,” Kroos complained.
“We allowed ourselves to be bossed around and then we saw that we’re not as good as we’re always told we are – and perhaps some of us think we are.
“That was clearly not enough from many of us.”
The home defeat cost the world champions their 22-match unbeaten run dating back to the Euro 2016 semi- final defeat to hosts France. Given preceding draws against England, France and Spain, Germany have failed to win any of their last four games - a worrying state of affairs with a World Cup looming.
Brazil fielded a near full-strength team, missing only Neymar, while Loew opted to give fringe players a chance they did not take.
Only two World Cup winners – Kroos and stand- in captain Boateng – started against the Selecao.
Manchester City’s defensive midfielder Ilkay Gundogan and winger Leroy Sane failed to impress as did Julian Draxler in the attacking midfield.
Gundogan did not contradict Kroos, saying: “That’s a warning sign for us, which was also the mood in the dressing room”.
Draxler added: “Toni is right to ring the alarm bells, but I do not think it’s all black for the World Cup.” — AFP