Bastian Schweinsteiger says Germany have lost elite status

Germany’s standing among international football’s leading teams has been questioned by one of its most prominent former players. Bastian Schweinsteiger believes the national side has slipped from the level expected of a major football nation and no longer has enough individual quality to change matches.

The assessment follows Germany’s 1-0 defeat by Greece in the Nations League on Sunday. The result added to concerns over a team that has struggled to reproduce the consistency and quality associated with its 2014 World Cup triumph. Schweinsteiger, a member of that championship-winning squad, said Germany should now be viewed as an average team rather than an elite one.

He contrasted Germany’s current options with Greece’s attacking talent, highlighting Konstantinos Karetsas, Christos Tzolis and Vangelis Pavlidis as players capable of influencing a game. The former Bayern Munich midfielder also pointed to the planned involvement of Jürgen Klopp in the rebuilding of German football, with the hope that a clearer identity and stronger level can be restored.

Germany captain Joshua Kimmich offered no rebuttal after the defeat. The 31-year-old midfielder, who has 114 international appearances, acknowledged that the team is currently far from being a great side. The comments underline the scale of the work ahead, with Germany seeking greater consistency, a refreshed generation and a renewed competitive identity.