Breitner calls for Ozil axe: 'He's been going for a walk'

Germany legend Paul Breitner has called upon Joachim Low to be bold and drop Mesut Ozil from his starting XI for the rest of the World Cup.

The Arsenal playmaker has started all of his side's games so far, scoring the deciding goal in the last-16 win over Algeria, but has been criticised for his performances.

Breitner believes the key to victory in the tournament is for every player to work hard and feels Ozil is yet to pull his weight.

"If [Low] is bold, he'll say: 'I will not play with only 10 people' and drop Mesut Ozil," he told TZ.

"That would be the next step for world titles and above all a big step for the good of the team. Nine men are torturing themselves for 90 minutes and he's going for a walk.

"That's not what you do at a World Cup."

Breitner also believes that the decision to deploy Philipp Lahm at full-back - with Jerome Boateng taking Per Mertesacker's play at the heart of defence - was the right one.

"He has seen what millions of fans have also seen - namely that we cannot continue with the defence from the previous games.

"We needed a solution and Philipp is not only world class in midfield, but also in defence. Jogi Low corrected his error of judgement."

Germany set up an enticing semi-final tie with Brazil by beating France in the last eight on Friday.