Gary Neville and Roy Keane hammer Jerome Boateng for shocking first half against Sweden

Gary Neville and Roy Keane launched a vicious attack on Germany defender Jerome Boateng after his terrible performance in the first half of their World Cup group game against Sweden on Saturday night.

Boateng endured a troublesome first half as Sweden took the lead through Ola Toivonen and his night went from bad to worse as he was sent off in the second half for a second bookable offence.

Before his untimely red card, however, panic had already began to set in for the German players as ITV pundits Keane and Neville went for the jugular during their half-time analysis and had Boateng firmly in their sights.

Jerome Boateng came under fire for his performance during Germany’s clash with Sweden

‘The two centre halves will give you a heart-attack,’ Keane began. ‘Boateng has got to come off. Boateng has been a disgrace.

‘He’s been walking around he’s like it’s a game of Sunday league football. He’s been a disgrace, get him off.’

Boateng was at fault for Sweden’s opening goal as a lax pass was intercepted and quickly thrust forward to set the underdogs on their way, before Toivonen dinked the ball over the helpless Manuel Neuer.

The Bayern Munich defender is one of Europe’s most highly-rated central defenders and has even been linked with a move to Manchester United. Judging by Saturday’s performance he may be waiting a while for a phone call from Jose Mourinho. Even Neville wouldn’t take him at Salford it seems. 

ITV pundit Roy Keane claimed Boateng was a disgrace during the first half on Saturday

ITV pundit Roy Keane claimed Boateng was a disgrace during the first half on Saturday

‘Roy is absolutely right, the centre-backs have been a joke, an absolute joke,’ Neville commented. ‘Boateng thinks for some reason he is (Franz) Beckenbauer, thinks he’s the player. He’s played under Pep (Guardiola) and started to believe he is a fantastic football player.

‘He has been a joke in this first half. He’s got delusions, thinks he is a player; he’s  wandering forward, ambling in the game.’ 

Boateng was central to controversy around a penalty appeal from the Swedish camp after he was adjudged by his opponents to have pushed Marcus Berg as he ran through on goal before seeing his effort blocked by Neuer.

The Germany defender was sent off in the second half and was heavily criticised

The Germany defender was sent off in the second half and was heavily criticised

Upon reflection, it was argued that Boateng had shoved the Swede as he went to shoot. An argument that divided the ITV pundits.

Patrice Evra insisted: ‘It is a penalty. The striker should score, and Roy will disagree with me, but it is a penalty. You can see he is late, Boateng, and he touches his leg.’

While Keane disagreed, arguing: ‘If the guy actually scores, you are looking at your defender and saying ‘You’ve got to do something’ and he has done enough to affect him (Berg). I agree with the referees out there: no penalty.’

One thing that was agreed in the studio though, was the de-synchronised play of this German team, their lack of cohesion and fluency. All things that made them worthy winners in Brazil four years ago. 

‘The Germans are not right, they are not right,’ Neville concluded. ‘The rumours before the game are proving to be true. Something is way wrong.’



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk