Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann has come in for criticism following Germany’s disappoinitng 2-0 defeat to Slovakia at the weekend.
Poor defending cost them two first-half goals and the partnership between strikers Miroslav Klose and Gerald Asamoah looked impotent.
The defeat combined with their 2-2 draw with Holland has burst the bubble of optimism which followed their showing in June’s Confederations Cup.
“It’s lucky we qualify automatically for the World Cup,” top-selling daily Bild wrote on Monday.
“There’s no defence, no goalscorer – just a lot of journeymen.”
Meanwhile, Franz Beckenbauer, head of the World Cup organising committee, was annoyed to see Jens Lehmann in goal in place of Oliver Kahn.
“We just can’t have the best goalkeeper off playing golf while we have an international match,” Beckenbauer said. “Next time, he’s going swimming.”
“The defence has to get used to playing with the goalkeeper. Jurgen is shying away from making a decision.”
He added: “I just find it sad that we’ve lost the momentum from the Confederations Cup.”
