Matthaus: Mertesacker is not good enough for Germany

20-Oct-2012 5:03:00 AM

The former Bayern Munich midfielder says the Arsenal defender does not have the quality to play at the highest level and expressed his doubts over two other players

Lothar Matthaus has labelled Per Mertesacker "overrated" and claims he is not good enough to play international football for Germany.

Die Mannschaft lead Sweden 4-0 after an hour of their World Cup qualifier on Tuesday night - with the Arsenal defender among the goalscorers - but then proceeded to crumble, with the game ending in a 4-4 draw.

Since then there has been an inquest by the German media, seeking answers to their inability to hold on to the lead and Matthaus gave his damning verdict in an interview in his homeland.

"Some players are overrated. [Mats] Hummels, who was missing in Berlin [against Sweden], was missed as [Per] Mertesacker, for me, lacks international calibre," he told Bild.

"[Holger] Badstuber and [Jerome] Boateng don't have world-class quality yet."

But despite his concerns over a number of personnel within the national side, the former World Player of the Year insists there is no need to panic on the back of a single disappointing result.

"In foreign countries everyone is fancying our football - only we [Germans] are complaining," he added.

"We have lost World Cup finals with [Paul] Breitner or [Karl-Heinz] Rumenigge on the pitch, Champions League finals with me and [Stefan] Effenberg. We do have leaders, they are just different types."