- Hamann launches scathing attack at the ألمانيا NT
- Believes the team showed complacency in loss to Slovakia
- Florian Wirtz and Nagelsmann also targeted
Former German international Hamann has strongly criticised the German Football Association (DFB) and the national team following recent performances in كأس العالم qualifying. There has been immense discourse regarding the future of Die Mannschaft following a shock 2-0 loss against Slovakia last week, with several former players providing their two cents on the tricky situation the Germans find themselves in.
Since lifting the World Cup in 2014, Germany have failed to get their hands on any major silverware. At last year’s European بطولة, they played enticing football and were among the favourites until they crashed out in a 2-1 defeat after extra time at the hands of إسبانيا. For the 2026 World Cup, they have been paired with Slovakia, Northern أيرلندا and Luxembourg. On paper, they should have strolled through this group without any hassle, but the loss to the Slovaks saw them fall three points behind. Failure to finish in the top two places in the group would mean no qualification to next year’s marquee event, a damning prospect for a nation with Germany’s history and football heritage.
“I could imagine that we might encounter problems. But I didn’t think we would play so badly,” said Hamann in an interview with ركض.
Hamann complained that last summer’s European Championship, when Germany was unfortunately defeated in the quarter-finals by eventual champions Spain, had been “completely misjudged”. “After the unfortunate exit in the quarter-finals against Spain, they presented themselves as the moral victors of the tournament. They gave the impression that victories in the semi-finals and finals would have been a mere formality if they had advanced,” added the former ليفربول لاعب.
The 52-year-old is also annoyed that the DFB “extended the contracts of those responsible early.” Among other things, the association extended Nagelsmann’s contract by two more years until Euro 2028 back in January. “In the past, people said you didn’t do that anymore,” Hamann criticised. “An incredible complacency has crept in. The recent slump in form has now reached its peak.”
Hamann further explained that he “finds it difficult” to accept Nagelsmann’s criticism of his players’ lack of emotion after their poor performance in Slovakia and his announcement that he may have to focus less on quality and more on mentality from now on.
“The changes to the starting line-up would essentially mean that the players who played against Northern Ireland are not as good as the others. But unlike the first eleven against Slovakia, they would at least run and give their all. That certainly doesn’t help,” he stated.
Hamann also criticised a prominent player in Florian Wirtz. The midfield magician, who moved from باير ليفركوزن to Liverpool in the summer for a mega transfer fee, has had “a very bumpy start” in England, according to Hamann. “Against أرسنال, the second half was the first time he played reasonably well,” the former midfielder said. “In the games before that, the game passed him by. Of course he’s unsettled. He has to get out of that now. His condition certainly doesn’t help the national team.”
As Slovakia also won their second match in Luxembourg 1-0, they currently lead the World Cup qualifying group with six points. Germany have three points and therefore urgently need victories against Luxembourg and Northern Ireland in October to put pressure on the group leaders. The return match against Slovakia will then take place on November 17.
Additional reporting by Oliver Maywurm.
