Former Germany midfielder Dietmar Hamann has accused the national side’s captain Philipp Lahm of having “very poor” positional sense.
The ex-Liverpool and Newcastle United star wants to see the 30-year-old removed from the midfield engine room and returned to full-back, where he often operates at club level.
Germany stalwart Lahm has spent most of his international career in defence but is now deployed further forward in an attempt to provide the flair players with more protection – a tactic Hamann insists is costing the team dearly.
They edged past underdogs Algeria in last night’s World Cup second round clash but had to do so in extra-time, doing little to stop the doubters during a jittery 2-1 triumph.
Hamann took to social media to express his concerns about his compatriots.
He said on Twitter: “Lahm’s positional sense is very poor in midfield. We’ve got 2 centre-halves playing full-back.
“Move him back to full-back.”
Germany broke the deadlock little more than a minute into extra-time, with Chelsea hitman Andre Schurrle netting from close range.
Arsenal schemer Mesut Ozil capitalised on the Algerians pushing forward and drilled in a second for the favourites, only to see Abdelmoumene Djabou volley home seconds later.
It proved to be a consolation strike for Algeria.