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Arsenal star Kai Havertz has fired back at Gary Lineker after the former England striker claimed this is “one of the weakest German national teams I’ve ever seen.”
The German forward addressed the foreign commentary during a press conference ahead of the highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 clash against Paraguay.
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He stated that there is no need to pay attention to pundits abroad when the German squad already faces immense scrutiny at home.
The former Chelsea forward expressed optimism that Germany’s attacking unit will step up and prove their critics wrong.
“Everyone can have their own opinion. I have no problem with that,’ the 27-year-old said.
“I didn’t even read what he said. At a tournament like this, a lot of people start talking about you. I don’t think anyone is really listening to that.
“We already have many pundits in our country. And if people from other countries start talking as well, then that’s enough at some point.
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“It’s easy for people to criticise from outside. I’m not interested in that at all.”
The last time Germany faced Paraguay in the last-16 stage of the 2002 World Cup, they picked up a 1-0 victory courtesy of a late effort from Oliver Neuville, a result they make seek to replicate and prove Lineker wrong.
2 Comments
Gary Lineker is very correct in his analysis. This Current German team cannot be compared to their World Cup teams of ’86, ’90, ’94, ’98, ‘2002 and even up to the 2014 team
The 1986 world cup, which Lineker represented England in, is still considered by many to be the best ever. Very good, highly technical teams. One of the best teams in that world cup was Germany, known then as West Germany. They lost in the final to Maradona and Argentina, but they were such a good side. Compared to that German squad, these current squad are a bunch of apprentices.
Lineker was not trying to be rude or offensive. He was just being objective.
If this squad is to reach the heights of their predecessors, a lot of work needs to be done. Back to the drawing board for Die Mannschaft.
Yes, they were very unfortunate to lose the way they did, especially with Tah’s disallowed goal at the tail end of the game, but they have themselves to blame for failing to wrap up the game in regulation time.