In a candid assessment, Per Mertesacker, the former world champion, current ZDF expert and Arsenal Head of Arsenal’s academy, delivered a scathing critique of the German national team’s performance following their disappointing 2-0 defeat to Austria.

His analysis focused on the team’s lack of unity and excessive individualism.

Per Mertesacker, a former world champion, expressed strong criticism of the German national team’s performance after their 2-0 defeat to Austria.

His comments, made during a halftime analysis, were notably harsh.

Mertesacker, now a ZDF expert as well as the Head of Arsenal’s academy, highlighted the team’s lack of collective effort and excessive individualism. He questioned the players’ character and their willingness to develop as a team, especially during challenging times.

Mertesacker remarked, “We have to learn from these mistakes as quickly as possible. At the moment, I don’t see a team that wears itself out and wants to play together and be successful.”

He observed that the team consisted of “a lot of individualists” and stressed the need to question their character, even at halftime, in terms of their desire to grow as a unit during difficult phases.

His criticism didn’t ease after the match, noting that the team’s performance didn’t improve post-break.

Mertesacker emphasised the lack of basic elements required for success, like simplicity, compactness, and stability.

He lamented the absence of mutual support and assistance among the players.

Reflecting on the first half, he described the football as “sobering,” lacking solutions with the ball, too slow, and very disorganised against the ball, emphasising the abundance of individualism and the need for a character check within the team.