‘Brutally frustrating’ – captain Neuer laments German exit
BERLIN: Germany captain Manuel Neuer (pic) named the team’s second straight group stage exit from the World Cup “brutally frustrating”, with forwards Kai Havertz and Mario Goetze voicing similar disappointment.
Germany went out on goal difference against Spain for second place in their group behind winners Japan, having never really impressed in their three games.
The four-time champions lost 2-1 to Japan, drew 1-1 with Spain and then beat Costa Rica 4-2 from 2-1 down in another nervous showing which was not good enough to advance because Japan beat Spain in the other game on Thursday.
“The pain and disappointment run deep. It is brutally frustrating that we could not consistently deliver our performance,” Neuer said on Instagram after the team had returned from Qatar late on Friday.
“It will take some time to come to terms with all this. Nevertheless, many thanks to all those who have always supported us and encouraged us!”
Germany were wasteful up front and also had major deficiencies in defence during the three games in Qatar, with Neuer also not spared from media criticism after reaching a goalkeeper record 19 World Cup games in his fourth participation at the tournament.
The 35-year-old from Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich had said after the exit that he did not plan to retire from the team and was ready to continue if he was “invited and the performance was according”.
Havertz, who scored two late goals against Costa Rica, also took to social media on Saturday, voicing similar feelings as Neuer on Twitter.
“We’re all very frustrated, disappointed ... it will take weeks to process this,” the Chelsea player said.
“Sometimes you get the high moments like Japan did, who played so well, and sometimes you’re left on the other side feeling this pain, it is why football is such an amazing sport,” he said.
Goetze, who scored Germany’s winner in the 2014 World Cup final against Argentina and returned into the squad for the first time since 2017 for Qatar, also took to Twitter to express his frustration.
“I’m still disappointed about how the World Cup ended for us,” he said.
“In the end, we missed too many chances and made mistakes in the wrong moments.”
In Qatar, he only made two appearances coming from the bench, but said “it was a great feeling to be back representing Germany and I tried to give my best whenever I stepped on the pitch”.