Former Germany captain Lothar Matthäus has asserted that player disputes involving their wives and girlfriends contributed significantly to the national team's unexpected World Cup elimination. Germany was defeated by Paraguay in the last-32, following a 1-1 draw in Boston.
Matthäus, who led Germany to World Cup victory in 1990, suggested that a similar situation arose during the 1994 World Cup in the United States, where he believes players were distracted by having their families present throughout the tournament, potentially impacting their quarter-final loss to Bulgaria.
He indicated that the current German squad faced comparable challenges, with travel arrangements for family members becoming a point of contention behind the scenes. "There were documentaries made about this topic in ’94 and I don’t think it was that different this time round," Matthäus stated.
"There's a lot to process, both on and off the pitch. Wives, families, everyone was involved. Lots of headlines," he added. "I don't know why you have to involve all the families right from the start. Then it's about travel options, about hotel bookings. That was all a topic within the team. It never appeared in the media, but I know it was a topic of discussion."
Matthäus recounted instances of discord, noting, "One player was angry with another because one player's mother was allowed to fly along, while another's wife and children were allowed to fly. The others had to take a commercial flight." He did not identify any specific individuals involved in these disputes.
The legendary footballer proposed that future tournaments should reconsider the handling of families, suggesting they be invited at later stages of the competition, particularly after periods of team success. He characterized the presence of partners and families at this World Cup as akin to "free family days."
"Ultimately, there was a lot of unrest, which didn't come across," Matthäus commented. "But despite all that, the focus simply wasn't on this World Cup. It was always a free family day and another free family day."
Earlier in the tournament, Matthäus had also voiced concerns about the presence of head coach Julian Nagelsmann's girlfriend, Lena Wurzenberger, at the camp. German media had previously reported on Wurzenberger, a former journalist, as a constant presence around the team. She was observed at Germany's pre-tournament training camp in Frankfurt, watching practices, and later seen with players after a match.
Matthäus had previously stated that Wurzenberger's frequent appearance in photographs was "not ideal," suggesting that it could influence honest discussions within the team regarding the national coach. He clarified that while he found it normal for players' families to visit during designated off-days, the rule should not extend to the coach's partner in the same manner.
Nagelsmann, who has faced criticism following Germany's exit, has maintained that he will not resign from his position as head coach.