Germany legend Lothar Matthäus ripped the German team after they were stunned by Paraguay in penalty kicks in the World Cup at Boston Stadium on Monday.
During an interview with Bild, a German newspaper, the former Bayern Munich midfielder said that German players weren’t focused and treated the 2026 World Cup as a “free family” trip to America.
“There’s a lot to process, both on and off the pitch. Wives, families, everyone was involved. Lots of headlines,” said Matthäus, who captained West Germany to a win over Italy to secure the FIFA World Cup in 1990, per The Sun.
Matthäus, who won 150 caps for Germany, claimed there was “a lot of unrest” within the team due to travel plans for their families.
“I don’t know why you have to involve all the families right from the start,” he said. “Then it’s about travel options, about hotel bookings. That was all a topic within the team. It never appeared in the media, but I know it was a topic of discussion.
“One player was angry with another because one player’s mother was allowed to fly along, while another’s wife and children were allowed to fly. The others had to take a commercial flight.”
“Ultimately, there was a lot of unrest, which didn’t come across. But despite all that, the focus simply wasn’t on this World Cup. It was always a free family day and another free family day.
“They weren’t even in America for two weeks and already all their families were there again. They can fly in for the quarter-finals if the team has achieved something.”
Anika Neuer, wife of Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer attended the Round of 32 match in Foxborough, Mass.
Fellow goalkeeper Oliver Baumann and his wife were seen together in the stands after Germany’s 2-1 Group E loss to Ecuador at New York New Jersey Stadium on Thursday.
Germany, a four-time World Cup champion, had never before lost a World Cup penalty shootout until Monday’s defeat by Paraguay.
Paraguay and France will face off in the Round of 16 Saturday at Philadelphia Stadium.
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