GERMANY goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has slammed his team-mates after the holders were knocked out of the World Cup.
Germany were beaten in two of their three group games as they fail to progress past the group stage for the first time.
Defeat to South Korea on Wednesday sealed Germany’s fate after a previous loss to Mexico earlier in the competition.
Victory over South Korea would have seen Germany progress but two late goals was enough to send them packing.
And Neuer, who lost the ball in midfield for the second goal, has admitted the 2014 winners just weren’t good enough in Russia.
“I think that all of us weren’t up for it and did not have the absolute will to show that we wanted to tear something down here at the World Cup,” Neuer said.
”Even if it had worked out today it would have been over for us in the knock-out phase in the next game or the game after.
“We did not deserve it, it has to be said very clearly… We are responsible. It’s very bitter and also just pathetic.”
It is the fourth time in five World Cups that the holder has failed to make it out of the group stage.
Having won the tournament in 1998, France were knocked out early on in 2002.
Italy were also dispatched in the group stage in 2010, just four years after lifting the trophy in Germany.
And after Spain waltzed to the title in South Africa eight years ago, they couldn’t make it out of the group in 2014.
Source:www.express.co.uk