Paul Breitner: 'Mesut Ozil must be dropped'

Former Germany international Paul Breitner has claimed that Mesut Ozil should be dropped for the team's World Cup semi-final against Brazil.

The midfielder's performances for both Arsenal and the national side have come under increasing criticism in recent months.

Breitner now believes that coach Joachim Low must be brave and leave Ozil out of Tuesday's encounter with the hosts.

"If Joachim Low is brave and says that he doesn't want to play with just ten players, he will leave Mesut Ozil out of the next match," he is quoted as saying by Spanish newspaper AS.

"It would be a step towards the World Cup title and above all a step forward for the team. Nine players go out there and give everything for 90 minutes and one other does nothing but walk around on the pitch. At a World Cup, that can't happen. Joachim Low has to come out of his shadow and give a reaction."

Breitner was part of the West Germany side that won the World Cup back in 1974.