THE WHEELS HAVE COME OFF
Germans still reeling from Mexico shock as: Neuer reveals dressing-room bust-up ‘Pathetic’ Ozil is accused of having ‘body language of dead frog’
YOU know the planet’s axis has tilted when open warfare breaks out in the German camp at a World Cup.
As if entering the tournament as defending champions and second favourites only to lose their opening game to Mexico wasn’t bad enough, the shockwaves are still reverberating through German football.
Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer admitted that harsh words – the like of which he had never heard on international duty – were dished out in the dressing room after that defeat.
And, yesterday, German officials were forced on to the offensive to defend Mesut Ozil over claims on TV back home that the Arsenal playmaker has “the body language of a dead frog”.
The Emirates star has been bearing the brunt of the criticism as the fallout, following the 1-0 defeat to the Mexicans, shows no sign of dying down.
Former Bayern Munich and Germany star Mario Basler made the claims on ‘Mesut lacks passion and I fear he is not comfortable in the jersey. It’s like he doesn’t want to play at all’ television about Ozil, saying: “He’s overrated as a footballer.
“I have to say it over and over again – he has the body language of a dead frog. It’s pathetic.”
Basler, capped 30 times by Die Mannschaft, was speaking in front of a studio audience – and his words were applauded.
It has been open season on the Gunners man. He has also been given a verbal kicking by World Cup winner Lothar Matthaus who laid into him, saying: “He lacks passion.
“I have the feeling he’s not comfortable in the jersey. It’s almost as if he doesn’t
want to play at all – there’s no heart, no joy.” The German media piled into their team yesterday, with general manager Oliver Bierhoff saying the victimis Ozil was “unfair”.
He said: “I’m loath to go into individual players, but it’s something we have to take in our stride.
“It is only natural we are criticised after a defeat. That’s the way things are.
“But we shouldn’t get worked up about one person’s opinion.
“Much of the criticism is justified, but it doesn’t just affect Ozil, it affects others.
“I’m all for judging players toughly. But when it gets like that, it’s unfair. That’s the
word I’d use.” Ozil’s position in the side is now under threat.
Bierhoff added that singling out the former Real Madrid man – his team-mate Sami Khedira was another to come under fire – was also wrong.
He said: “It’s for the coaches to decide if changes are required.
“I wouldn’t pin this criticism on just Ozil and Khedira. There were several players who underperformed. It was more than just those two. It’s all too easy to blame one or two people.
“I don’t think it’s a question of attitude or that players don’t want to perform.
“But it was very visible in the first half they weren’t going that extra mile – there was that one yard missing.
“The players realise that 99 per cent is not enough. We must not give up our philosophy – it’s one that has worked brilliantly over a number of years.
“We have certain principles and we should stick to them.
“When we do, we are normally successful.”