‘Scapegoat’ Ozil should quit German team, says his father

The father of Mesut Ozil said yesterday his son should quit Germany’s national squad after he was “made the scapegoat” for Die Mannschaft’s shock first-round defeat at the World Cup.

Ozil, 29, has come in for hefty criticism in Germany after the World Champions crashed out in Russia, finishing bottom of their group.

Pressure had already been mounting on the Arsenal midfielder in the World Cup run-up over a controversial photograph with Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that was seized on to question his loyalty to Germany.