Former Liverpool's Babbel irritated by Low's tactics against England

Low's 15-year reign as 

Germany's 

national team manager ended 

 in the European Championship’s round of 16.

During his reign, the Germans lifted World Cup 2014 and FIFA Confederations Cup in 2017. However, failing to qualify from the group stage in World Cup 2018 put extra pressure on Germans to bounce back.

However, the early exit from Euro 2020 put an end to the story of Germany under Joachim Low’s reign.

Former Germany international, 

Markus Babbel

, believes the failure to build on their early chances in the game was indicative of 

Germany's 

problems. He told 

: "They lacked the conviction that they could do it. The team started well, that should have given them confidence. You could feel that the English were afraid of us, but suddenly we became more and more passive, we couldn't hold the ball as soon as England became a bit more aggressive.

"The result was rapid ball losses and the atmosphere in the stadium gradually seemed to have made an impression."

Former 

Liverpool 

defender 

Babbel 

feels 

Low 

was not creative enough with his selections and that led to major tactical flaws. He added: "Insisting on three at the back without having a Plan B irritated me very much. It's always hard when players are not in their best position. Joshua Kimmich can play on the right, but in my opinion he radiated a high level of dissatisfaction. He wanted to play No.6.

"Nobody can tell me that you can't find a defender on the right. I'm laughing myself to death! It doesn't have to be a Cafu that constantly initiates every attack. Closing the side is enough and Matthias Ginter, Emre Can or Niklas Sule would certainly have managed it.

"Leroy Sane didn't play in his favourite position either. He feels comfortable on the right side, with us he constantly had to come over to the left, which only increased his already cracked self-confidence.

"The same applies to Thomas Muller. Muller has found his best position around the striker at Bayern. He still did well at the European Championship, but why don't we let our boys play where they are best? You have so much time to prepare for a tournament like this and then you lack a Plan B.”

On Germany’s future, especially with the appointment of Bayern’s 

Hansi Flick 

as the head coach, 

Babbel 

added: "It has to be based on the performances and not on the age group. The World Cup is coming up next year and we don't have an over-aged or poor quality team. However, it has to become more dominant and self-confident again and appear completely different.

"Flick has to do this in the short term. He has already impressively demonstrated at Bayern that he can do that. In the future, too, talented people will keep coming who want and will fight for their place."

"As a Champions League winner, you have to claim to be in the starting line-up. 'Gnabry has to stand in line', should be heard from him instead."

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