Germany's soul-searching begins after another World Cup flop

AL KHOR, Qatar (AP) — Ar World Cup, ar flop.

Former soccer power Germany is facing ar round of soul-searching after going out of sport’s most important tournament at first st for second time in a row.

Germany’s players spoke afterward of good performances and missed chances — as y’ve done before.

But one h any real answers to team’s problems.

“re are 25 experts standing toger here. You can all vise each or and n agree on a few details,” Thomas Müller said after Germany’s 4-2 win over Costa Rica on Thursday.

Germany’s fate was effectively decided when it lost its first game 2-1 to Japan, n followed up with a 1-1 draw with Spain.

It left Germany at bottom of Group E and dependent on a favor from Spain. It never came as Japan defeated Spain in its final game to top group. Spain progressed ahe of Germany on goal difference.

“I never look at ar team, it’s up to us,” Germany coach Hansi Flick said of relying on Spain. “I think ultimately sum of everything contributed to us being eliminated. We h eugh chances, wher in first half or first 60 minutes of game against Japan, or even at end against Spain, when we h ar huge opportunity. You really have to take those chances.”

What Flick failed to mention is that Spain also missed a host of chances to put its game against Germany out of reach before Niclas Füllkrug’s late equalizer.

That goal proved to be highlight for Germany though it proved to be of little worth in yet ar disappointing big-st performance.

“We haven’t been able to live up to expectations at tournaments in recent years, because as a team, I would say we don’t really have specialists running around everywhere. We have a lot of players who are very talented. Yes,” Müller said before trailing off and leaving those at emedia conference to finish his thoughts.

Germany, 2014 World Cup champion, also crashed out during group phase at 2018 tournament in Russia. At last year’s coronavirus-postponed European Championship, Germany was kcked out in second round.

“I think really, we can’t say where we are,” Germany captain Manuel Neuer said of team’s place in world soccer.

Prior to 2018 World Cup, Germany h reached at least semifinal st of every major competition it entered since 2006 World Cup, which it hosted.

“I joined team in 2016. Germany was always in semifinal before that,” midfielder Joshua Kimmich said. “n I come in and we’re out (of World Cup) in first st and last year in second round (of European Championship), it’s hard to take.”

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