Schweinsteiger Criticizes Germany After Unexpected 2-0 Loss to Slovakia

Germany legend and former Manchester United and Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has sharply criticized his national team following their surprising defeat by Slovakia in World Cup qualifying. The match in Bratislava saw Germany’s hopes of a strong start diminish after a disappointing performance that resulted in a 2-0 defeat.

Despite high expectations and a lineup featuring Florian Wirtz, Joshua Kimmich, and Nick Woltemade, Germany struggled to create scoring opportunities. They registered 14 shots but only three were on target, unable to penetrate Slovakia’s solid defense, with goals scored by David Hancko and David Strelec.

Schweinsteiger, who earned 121 caps for Germany, did not hold back in his assessment. “I didn’t believe we would win during the game,” he said. “We performed terribly—no good passes, no threat in attack, and a quick loss of morale after going down 0-1. If you want to succeed, resilience is key.”

He also expressed disappointment at the reaction from German fans, noting, “It hurt my heart to see fans booing and turning away their own players. Qualifying for the World Cup should be straightforward, but today’s display was heart-wrenching.”

The match raised concerns regarding the current form of players like Wirtz and Woltemade. Schweinsteiger specifically highlighted the Slovak defender Milan Skriniar’s performance, comparing him favorably with Germany’s players, saying, “None of us could hold a candle to him.”

Defender Jonathan Tah admitted that the team’s overall control was lacking, describing their display as weak. Germany’s upcoming fixture is against Northern Ireland, who secured a 3-1 victory over Luxembourg, with Germany facing an uphill battle to ensure automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

Schweinsteiger reflected on the defensive effort, mentioning, “Look at Milan Skriniar—none of us could compare to him,” and emphasized the need for resilience ahead of the next matches.