WorldCup, Russia 2018 Germany World Cup exit, Matthaus blasts Bayern Munich Stars

Germany great Lothar Matthaus blast Bayern Munich players in Joachim Low's squad after their 2018 FIFA World Cup early exit.

The Die Mannschaft failed to defend their title they won four years ago in Brazil with an early group stage exit from this summer Mundial in Russia after two losses against Mexico and South Korea.

However, this will be the first time since 1938 Germany failed to go beyond the first round at the showpiece tournament.

The 57-year-old Matthaus was a part of 1990 World Cup winner was angry with the performance of Bayern Munich trio Jerome Boateng, Thomas Muller and Mats Hummels.

He said via Goal: "The team has got leaders but the leaders were preoccupied with themselves.

"I am thinking in particular of the Bayern Munich players – Boateng, Hummels, [Manuel] Neuer, Muller. Apart from Manuel, I believe that nobody can be happy with his performance.

"A [Champions League] semi-final loss against Real Madrid, a [DFB-Pokal] final defeat against Eintracht Frankfurt."

Despite being contracted until 2022, Low's future at the helm of Germany remains uncertain.

While Matthaus praised the 58-year-old, the 150-time international said Low got it wrong with his squad selection.

"I am a fan of his. In the last 12 or 14 years he has characterised the German football and Germany," he said.

"He didn't only lead Germany to the World Cup but also they reached the semi-finals in every tournament. There is nothing to reproach him for in all of his past – apart from this current tournament.

"In my opinion, he didn't find the right mix in the team between the Confederations Cup-winning team and the World Cup winners from 2014.

"It was actually a team who didn't have a chance of keeping up physically with the Mexicans and South Koreans, especially their pace."

fcnaija