World Cup 2018: Mesut Ozil criticism is unfair, says fellow Germany flop Jerome Boateng
Ozil failed to make an impact in the two matches he started in Die Mannschaft's earliest exit from the competition since 1938
JEROME BOATENG has defended team-mate Mesut Ozil's performances in Germany's disastrous World Cup campaign.
The Arsenal playmaker has come in for stick from the likes of former Germany internationals Lothar Matthaus and Mario Basler for his laid-back approach.
Ozil failed to make an impact in the matches he started against Mexico and South Korea in Die Mannschaft's earliest exit from the competition since 1938.
But Boateng says Ozil is "only human" and that the position he plays makes him an easy target.
The Bayern Munich defender explained: “Everyone has picked out Mesut Ozil, but that’s not possible, Mesut is a human.
“The whole team was in charge of our destiny. We’ve not managed to play together at this World Cup. We have to blame ourselves.
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“He’s an artist on the ball, not a fighter in the defence like me, so maybe he comes across badly. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to win or he does it on purpose.
“It was a difficult situation for him at the end.”
Boateng was slammed for his display in Germany's dramatic 2-1 win over Sweden by ITV pundits Roy Keane and Gary Neville .
Keane reckoned that Germany only clicked into gear ahead of Toni Kroos' winner because Boateng was off the field after receiving a red card for picking up a pair of yellows.
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Boateng has no intention of quitting internationals, but hinted 92-cap Ozil may call it a day.
He added: "Of course we’ve spoken.
"Like all of us, Mesut is extremely disappointed and sad that the World Cup came to an end.
"But I can hardly put myself in his shoes. We’ve all got to process it."