Matthäus' World Cup Reckoning: Germany Worse Than 2018 and 2022
In a scathing opinion piece for BILD Sport, German football legend Lothar Matthäus analyzes Germany's disappointing performance at the 2026 World Cup. He argues that Germany was worse than in their first-round exits in 2018 and 2022, calling it the worst performance of the last three World Cups. Matthäus criticizes the team's lack of fighting spirit, mentality, and tactical discipline, noting that nine players from the 2022 squad were still in the 2026 team, indicating zero progress. He contrasts Germany's failure with Spain's deserved World Cup victory, pointing out that Spain's 2022 squad formed the core of their 2026 champions. Matthäus also criticizes FIFA for what he calls the 'Americanization' of football, extreme commercialization, and the controversial suspension of a red card after a call from Donald Trump to FIFA President Gianni Infantino. He calls for a ruthless analysis of German football's decline and expresses confidence that incoming national coach Jürgen Klopp will address these issues.
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