Germany boss Loew fires back at Wagner’s criticism

BERLIN — Germany head coach Joachim Loew fired back on Friday at criticism from Sandro Wagner, who retired from international duty in mid-week after being left out of the extended World Cup squad.

“I took it as a criticism of his fellow players and he portrays some, who have played for us for an eternity and are senior players, as if they were complete idiots,” said Loew at an event in Berlin.

“He makes out that they are only with us [in the national squad] because they don’t speak their minds.

“He says that others don’t open their mouths. What should the likes of Jerome [Boateng] and Mats [Hummels] think? It’s completely outrageous.”

The outspoken Wagner, who scored five goals as Germany qualified for Russia 2018 with a perfect record of ten wins, resigned from international duty in protest after being left out of the 27-man extended squad on Tuesday.

“For me, it is clear that I do not seem to fit with the coaching team in the way I am always open, honest and address things directly,” fumed Wagner, who has made eight appearances for Germany.

The burly forward, who is Robert Lewandowski’s back-up at Bayern, was furious as Loew opted to include RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner, Mario Gomez of VfB Stuttgart and Freiburg’s Nils Petersen as his strikers.

Wagner indirectly accused the German squad of being packed with “yes men”, a notion Loew rejects.

“I can understand a little bit that he is disappointed, that’s clear,” said Germany’s World Cup-winning coach.

“But I find his reaction a bit over the top.

“Everyone who knows us knows how we always encourage players to voice their opinions, to be open and honest, to be critical of ourselves.

“These things are very important to us.”

Germany open their World Cup campaign against Mexico in Moscow on June 17 and also face South Korea and Sweden in Group F.

Neuer at World Cup

Bayern Munich keeper Manuel Neuer has been included in their squad for the German Cup final against Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday and will start on the bench, coach Jupp Heynckes said on Friday.

The 32-year-old, who was named this week in Germany’s preliminary World Cup squad, has not played a game since breaking a bone in his foot back in September, putting his chances of making next month’s tournament in Russia in serious doubt.

“He has been training well and it is great to see the condition he is in. Manuel has absolutely no problems. Physically he is fully fit,” Heynckes told reporters. “But he will not play from the start.”

Neuer, who won the World Cup in 2014 and has been Germany’s first choice keeper for eight years, has been racing to get fit and started training with the team this week.

Loew said this week Neuer would have no chance of making the final squad for Russia next month without match practice, but Heynckes sounded confident the keeper would be there.

“Manuel has a presence, an authority in goal. You cannot compare him with anyone. The nation can relax. He will be a big support at the World Cup,” Heynckes added.