'Angry' Mueller blasts Loew for 'bad taste' Germany axe

Thomas Mueller said he was "angry" over Joachim Loew's "bad taste" decision to axe him and Bayern Munich teammates Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels from the Germany squad.

National coach Loew flew to Munich on Tuesday to tell Mueller, 29, Boateng and Hummels, both 30, that their international careers are over.

The World Cup winning trio have earned 246 caps between them.

"The more I think about it, the more the way it was done, makes me angry," said Mueller in a two-minute video message posted on his social networks.

"The coach's sudden decision obviously left me puzzled. A coach must make sporting decisions, no problem, I do not have a problem with that.

"But it's mostly the character of the decision that I don't understand. Mats, Jerome and I are still able to play at the highest level.

"The press releases of the German football federation (DFB) and its president (Reinhard Grindel), prepared in advance, were from my point of view in bad taste and showed a lack of consideration."
"The last international match of the German national team took place on 19 November 2018 -- three and a half months ago."
- 'Unannounced visit' -
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"You could have thrown these three players out of the national team two months ago, after so many years of merit, and not a week before the important match in the Champions League."
"One thing is for sure, Loew will be measured by it in the future. If the change fails, he will have to bear the consequences."