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Guest
·Lothar Mathaus has launched a scathing attack on his team-mates, after their embarrassing exit from Euro 2000.
Matthaus brought the curtain down on his glittering international career in the 3-0 defeat by Portugal and then turned on the current crop of internationals.
"We must look very closely at the character of the players," the New York Metrostars player said. "It would be better to use less talented players who actually put their hearts into the game and are proud to play for Germany.
"There must never be another German team in which every player earns millions, but is not ready to give their all.
"When I first wake up in the mornings I first think it was a bad dream. Then I have to realise it wasn’t.
"I’ve spent 20 years in the national team and I’ve never experienced such a thing. We had a characterless team. I’m happy it’s all over."
He also branded the players as disgraces for undertaking a late-night drinking session after the Portugal match, saying: "I saw that when I was going back to the airport with a number of players from Bayern Munich.
"It is a scandal, a disgrace and characterless to get drunk through the night after such a catastrophic game, after such a terrible run in the tournament.
"The German FA (DFB) has time to analyse the situation. Many of the people from the DFB were there and they must know what should be done."
Matthaus, who won his 150th cap in the final game, stated that he hoped that departed coach Erich Ribbeck would not be blamed for the performance of the players.
"It was my mistake to go to the European Championships. I would never have come back had I known what would happen," he said.
"I only hope that Erich Ribbeck is not made a scapegoat," Matthaus added. "The players have hidden behind him."
Matthaus brought the curtain down on his glittering international career in the 3-0 defeat by Portugal and then turned on the current crop of internationals.
"We must look very closely at the character of the players," the New York Metrostars player said. "It would be better to use less talented players who actually put their hearts into the game and are proud to play for Germany.
"There must never be another German team in which every player earns millions, but is not ready to give their all.
"When I first wake up in the mornings I first think it was a bad dream. Then I have to realise it wasn’t.
"I’ve spent 20 years in the national team and I’ve never experienced such a thing. We had a characterless team. I’m happy it’s all over."
He also branded the players as disgraces for undertaking a late-night drinking session after the Portugal match, saying: "I saw that when I was going back to the airport with a number of players from Bayern Munich.
"It is a scandal, a disgrace and characterless to get drunk through the night after such a catastrophic game, after such a terrible run in the tournament.
"The German FA (DFB) has time to analyse the situation. Many of the people from the DFB were there and they must know what should be done."
Matthaus, who won his 150th cap in the final game, stated that he hoped that departed coach Erich Ribbeck would not be blamed for the performance of the players.
"It was my mistake to go to the European Championships. I would never have come back had I known what would happen," he said.
"I only hope that Erich Ribbeck is not made a scapegoat," Matthaus added. "The players have hidden behind him."