German defender Jerome Boateng has bit out against his country’s supporters after they booed and jeered Ozil off the pitch during Sunday’s friendly with Cameroon.
The Arsenal midfielder’s poor showing led to his substitution in the 63rd minute by fellow Gooner Lukas Podolski and a section of the German support voiced their frustration with the £42million man in Monchengladbach.
Ozil got the same reception last March during Germany’s 1-0 over Chile, the same night he received the German Footballer of the Year award.
Boateng told reporters following the match: “I do not understand, I cannot understand,”
“In that case people should not come to the stadium. That they whistle so early into the game… I do not understand.”
The final three months of Ozil’s disappointing season with Arsenal were filled with a hamstring injury and German boss Joachim Low admits the 25 year-old is still a little short of fitness ahead of the World Cup in Brazil.
Low spoke after the Cameroon game, saying: “Ozil didn’t have one of his better days and he needs two weeks more,”
“But after that we will see a strong Ozil at the World Cup.”
By Phil Wellbrook