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Germany display against England slammed by ex-players: ‘Sobering, unconscious... a lack of fighting spirit’

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Former Germany stars Lukas Podolski and Michael Ballack have hammered Joachim Low’s side after they crashed out of Euro 2020 with defeat to England.

Germany were beaten 2-0 at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday, exiting the tournament at the last-16 stage.

Ballack and Podolski, who between them boast over 200 senior caps for Germany, were working as pundits on the game and did not hold back with their criticism.

“There was a lack of ambition, a lack of fighting spirit,” Podolski told BILD’s podcast.

“It all seems so bleak when you see the faces of the players; there’s nothing that moves.

“A fire could break out in the stadium, and they would stay on the pitch. We’re missing the absolute will to score a goal.”

Ballack was just as scathing of Germany’s performance, criticising their style of play as goals from Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling consigned them to a painful defeat.

“[It was] sobering, unconscious,” Ballack stated on MagentaTV.

“The first half showed that we had no answers, that we had withdrawn unnecessarily. I don’t understand why he waited so long to make his substitutions.”

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