Chukwu Ikechukwu

updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:21 PM

• Toni Kroos has responded after being blamed for Germany's early exit at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar
• The former World champions failed to progress from the group stages after amassing just one win in their three games
• Germany has now failed to progress out of the group stages of the World Cup for two consecutive competitions following their failure also in 2018

Toni Kroos has laughed off suggestions he was behind Germany’s failure to excel at the 2022 FIFA World Cup following their early exit in Qatar.

The 2014 world champions crashed out of the group stages for the second consecutive season after finishing behind Japan and Spain in Group E at the World Cup.

According to Goal, the Real Madrid midfielder jokingly revealed he knew someone was going to blame him for Germany’s ouster despite retiring from the national team in 2021.

Which is the best team in FIFA World Cup 2022? Who are the favourites to win it all?

Football

Exciting feature: Check out news exactly for YOU ➡️ find "Recommended for you" block and enjoy!

Journalist Cristina Cubero mentioned Kroos’ name when mentioning the worse players at the World Cup as she blamed the star for Germany’s exit.

Kroos has not featured for the German national team since retiring from international football in July 2021 but was part of the team that failed at the 2018 World Cup.

Germany nosedives in FIFA rankings

Meanwhile, Germany has dropped out of the top ten football-playing countries in the world following their disastrous 2022 World Cup campaign, Sporting News reports.

The 2014 world champions dropped to 11th on the latest FIFA rankings, losing three spots from their November ranking following their early exit from Qatar.

Germany finished third in Group E behind Japan and Spain as they failed to progress out of the first round of the World Cup for the second consecutive tournament.

Portugal World Cup Squad 2022: Is Cristiano Ronaldo playing this World Cup?

Football

Germany squad rift reported over controversial protests

Earlier, Sports Brief reported It has now emerged that there might have been a rift within the German squad during their short time in Qatar.

Germany exited the World Cup in the group stage for the second tournament running, after yet another shambolic performance on the world's grandest stage.

They began their campaign with a shocking loss to Japan, before holding Spain to a draw and beating Costa Rica. However, four points were not enough to see them through to the next round.