2014 World Cup: Ghana star Kevin-Prince Boateng believes his criticism of Germany touched 'sore spot'

Published on: 05 June 2014
2014 World Cup: Ghana star Kevin-Prince Boateng believes his criticism of Germany touched 'sore spot'
Kevin-Prince Boateng says his criticism hurt Germany because he was spot on

Ghana international Kevin-Prince Boateng believes he touched a nerve with his recent criticism of Germany as the two countries prepare to clash at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil this month.

Berlin-born Boateng opted to play for Ghana shortly before the 2010 World Cup, after having previously played for Germany's under-21 team. He had fallen out with the German FA, which had questioned his character.

Boateng, the half-brother of Germany international Jerome, featured in each of Ghana's five games in South Africa until their controversial elimination by Uruguay at the quarterfinal stage.

He quit internationals in November 2011 to concentrate on his club football, but is back for this month's World Cup -- with Ghana drawn alongside Portugal, United States and Germany.

In early May, Boateng said that Germany lack a real leader. "The German team has world class players in every position, and that is their main problem," Boateng told ESPN FC at the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen.

"They have so many good players, and need to win the World Cup or at least make it to the final.

"I see an outstanding team, but whenever something is at stake they do not make the final step. They just lack this one guy."

Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff countered, telling Bild: "Germany don't need characters who shout wildly on the pitch, but rather players who take on responsibility -- and we have them."

Head coach Joachim Loew added: "All I want to say about that is: we'll answer at the World Cup."

Referring to Bierhoff's reply, Boateng told Sport Bild on Wednesday: "Some comments have amazed me. Such a statement is really weak. I put a totally different meaning into the word leader. I've touched a sore spot with that remark, because nearly everyone knows that it's just like that. I don't want to attack anyone, but that's just my opinion."

Elsewhere, leader or no leader, the injured Germany trio Manuel Neuer, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Philipp Lahm continue to work on their comeback in Munich.

The Germany team was granted two days off, and will only reunite on Thursday, when they will begin their preparation for the final warm-up on German soil against Armenia on Friday.

Bild reported that Neuer, who suffered a shoulder injury in the DFB-Pokal final over a fortnight ago, was still unable to have specific goalkeeping training on Tuesday.

While Neuer trained for 70 minutes, Lahm, who suffered an ankle injury in the cup final, had a 45-minute run out. Schweinsteiger, recovering from a knee injury, joined the pair for the running sessions and a game of football tennis, the paper reported.

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