‘There is no heart, no joy, no passion’: World Cup winner Lothar Matthaus slams ‘negative’ Mesut Ozil for role in Germany’s shock defeat by Mexico
- Germany were stunned by Mexico in their opening game of the World Cup
- Mesut Ozil played the full 90 minutes but was unable to impact the game
- Germany legend Lothar Matthaus has expressed his discontent with Ozil
- The World Cup winner wrote in his Bild column that Ozil has ‘no heart’
Mesut Ozil has come under fire for his performance against Mexico last Sunday with Germany legend Lothar Matthaus claiming he has ‘no passion’ when playing for his country.
The holders were stunned at the Luzhniki Stadium as Hirving Lozano hammered home a first-half winner for the Mexicans to condemn Joachim Low’s men to their first World Cup opening defeat since 1982.
While the German side were none too popular back home, Ozil is one player who has come under consistent scrutiny for his performances in the white and black.
Mesut Ozil has no ‘heart’ or ‘passion’ according to Germany legend Lothar Matthaus
Ozil played the full 90 minutes in Moscow but struggled to impact the game and writing in his Bild column, Matthaus has attacked the Arsenal midfielder’s efforts.
‘What displeases: His body language is negative,’ he wrote. ‘He is in the game without joy.
‘I often have the feeling that on the pitch Ozil doesn’t feel comfortable in the DFB jersey, is not free – almost as if he does not want to play.
‘There is no heart, no joy, no passion. After the latest impression, it is not excluded for me that he withdraws from the national team after the World Cup.’
Ozil was unable to impact Germany’s shock World Cup opening defeat by Mexico
World Cup winner Matthaus in Russia covering Germany’s activity throughout the tournament
Former Germany international Matthaus knows a thing or two about passion and commitment to the cause, winning the World Cup in 1990 and making 150 appearances along the way.
He went on to add that Ozil only makes for good viewing when it suits him, and more importantly when a game is in Germany’s favour.
‘For a year of two, Ozil has played at a level that does not justify the free ticket of Jogi Low,’ he added. ‘If things go well then Ozil plays well too. If things are going badly, it [a poor performance] will happen.’
Low must now prepare his side for a crucial second game against Sweden on Saturday, who top the group, before facing South Korea the following Wednesday in Kazan.
Matthaus claimed in his Bild column that Ozil ‘doesn’t feel comfortable in the DFB jersey’
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