GERMANY HEAD COACH Joachim Loew dropped a bombshell today by announcing that 2014 World Cup winners Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels and Thomas Müller are no longer in his plans.
Between them, Hummels, Boateng, both 30, and Mueller, still only 29, boast 246 appearances for Germany and were at the heart of the team which won the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
However, last year’s debacle at the World Cup finals in Russia saw Germany crash out after the group stages due to below-par performances from Loew’s trusted stars, including the trio.
“2019 is the year of a new start for the German national football team,” said Loew.
“It was important to me personally to explain my thoughts and plans to the players and managers of FC Bayern,” added Loew, who flew to Munich to speak to the trio.
The 59-year-old, who masterminded Germany’s World Cup triumph in Brazil, thanked “Mats, Jerome and Thomas” for “many successful, extraordinary and unique years together.”
Loew’s decision heralds the end of an impressive international career for Mueller, who broke through as a raw 20-year-old at the 2010 World Cup and went on to score 38 goals in 100 appearances.
Hummels and Boateng, Germany’s successful centre-back partnership before the disaster at the finals in Russia, have played in 70 and 76 internationals respectively.
With a year to go before the European championships, Loew feels now is the time to remove more of his old guard having already last year dropped Sami Khedira, another 2014 World Cup winner.
Loew was heavily criticised in the wake of last year’s debacle in Russia for failing to give chances to the reserves, many of whom had won the 2017 Confederations Cup, when his World Cup plans fell apart.
“In the year of qualifying for the European Championship 2020, we are sending out a clear signal: the young national team players will have the space they need to fully develop,” said Loew. “They have to take responsibility now.”
Loew’s boss, German Football Association president Reinhard Grindel, who also took flak last year when Mesut Ozil retired from Germany duty amid claims of racism, welcomed Loew’s move.
“I welcome the fact that he is now making decisive progress in transforming our national team and starting the qualification for EURO 2020 is the right time for personnel changes,” said Grindel.
© AFP 2019
Subscribe to our new podcast, The42 Rugby Weekly, here:
Can we have them??
@Kj bar: No. The three of them have won the World Cup with Germany, meaning they’ve played competitively for Germany in senior internationals and therefore cannot represent another nation, according to FIFA rules.
@James Clancy: you may find this useful https://www.google.com/amp/s/dictionary.cambridge.org/amp/english/sarcasm
@James Clancy: I’d say you’ve a touch of German in you yourself with an attitude like that
@Frainc Ó Broin: Haha! I suspected it might be sarcastic, but I thought: “Just in case…”
@James Clancy: hey. How many Germans does it take to change a light bulb……………….? just one, because they are very efficient and have no sense of humour. You get that right ? ;)
Two of them 30 and Mueller still 29 hardly over the hill..maybe England should of done that with a few players after WC 06…as for Ireland under ONeill they’d have to turn 30 to be considered for selection
Loew needs to take a long hard sniff of his crotch and reconsider. Bizarre
@David Gilmore: Hahahaah he is Eine Manky Schwein !
All 3 were already past their sell-by date at the last WC. When Bayern are offering you a big name for bargain price then you know they’re finished… but no one told Mourinho that when he threw a tantrum for not getting Boateng.
As always the Germans have a frightening batch coming through – Leroy Sane, Timo Werner, Julian Brandt, Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Niklas Sule added to more established youth Weigle, Draxler, Rudiger
So if Muller goes off and wins the Ballon D’Or or something you have decided that form and performance don’t matter? Such nonsense.
@David Hickey: I don’t see Müller winning the Ballon D’Or but it seems an odd decision from Jogi Low to announce that he’s ending their international careers.
@James Clancy: * Loew not Low.
@David Hickey: agreed. Just dont pick them. No need to make a song and dance about it. They might enjoy an Indian summer in their careers.
Scapegoats for Loew and his armpit smelling ways?