TENERO, Switzerland, June 15 (Reuters) - Germany's players held a candid meeting to pick over individual and collective mistakes in their defeat by Croatia, captain Michael Ballack
said on Sunday.
Ballack refused to give details about the meeting but said
the players had spoken honestly and directly after a 2-1 defeat
by Croatia left them facing a fight for their Euro 2008 future
in Monday's Group B game against Austria in Vienna.
'It wasn't a crisis meeting but players were able to speak
more openly away from the coaches,' Ballack said at a news
conference on the eve of the Austria match, when Germany will
need to avoid defeat to reach the quarter-finals.
'Sometimes you need to talk as footballers do, among
ourselves.
'The important thing is that any criticism is constructive.
You are not out to run anybody down but sometimes you have to
say things with a rough edge.'
Germany played well enough in a 2-0 win over Poland in their
opening Group B game but there was a great dip in performance in
the Croatia match.
Ballack recognised that he was one of the players who had a
lot more to offer than he has shown so far.
'I know I can play better and should play better,' Ballack
said. 'Overall we haven't played to our full potential yet.
'We've resolved to give everything on Monday. We are honest
enough to be self-critical. But let's look at the positive
aspect: at least there's plenty of room for improvement.'
Germany will be without suspended Bastian Schweinsteiger on
Monday in Vienna, while assistant coach Hansi Flick confirmed on
Sunday that Marcell Jansen's shoulder injury would keep him out.
A draw or a win for Germany on Monday would take them
through as runners-up behind Croatia and set up a quarter-final
against Portugal.
Austria need to beat Germany and hope Poland to not beat the
already-qualified Croatians by a bigger margin in Klagenfurt.
Germany coach Joachim Low revealed that he felt his squad were blaming each
other before the players held their meeting.
'I do think the meeting was a good thing because we should avoid pointing the
finger at each other,' he said.
'Within the team, players and coaching staff have to keep questioning
ourselves but not others.
'We cannot blame offence or defence - it was a team. It is why I encouraged
team members sitting down and talking and avoiding finger-pointing. I think it
did a lot of good.'
Low feels his squad are capable of dealing with the weight of expectation, and
believes Austria will also be under pressure themselves.
He added: 'I promise the team will be playing differently. All of us, every
player, knows 30million fans will be watching in Germany and have high hopes,
which is why we must win this match for our fans and for our nation.
'Austria stand a chance and want a place in the quarter-final. They are under
as much pressure as we are.
'We will play our game and impose it on our opponent, we are confident enough
to show what we can do.'
He added: 'I know that our team are able to manage pressure. From time to time
a little pressure doesn't hurt. It will allow us to live up to the challenge. I
think we are ready to live with the pressure.
'If we play well there is no reason to be afraid of our opponents.'
