Arsene Wenger suggests teams that were focused on political statements performed the worst at the World Cup amid Germany’s group stage exit

Arsene Wenger has suggested that teams who made political statements at the start of the tournament suffered poor performances on the pitch as a result.

Germany were the biggest group stage casualties as they exited the World Cup with just one win from their group matches against Spain, Japan and Costa Rica.

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The 2014 winners covered their mouths during a team photograph ahead of their opening game against Japan, in protest at FIFA’s ban on OneLove armbands.

It came after the German Football Association instructed captain Manuel Neuer to not wear the rainbow armband for the game after FIFA threatened sporting sanctions against any captain opting to wear it.

England’s Harry Kane and Wales’ Gareth Bale and Netherlands skipper Virgil van Dijk also u-turned on their plans to wear the band – which promotes diversity and inclusion – after learning of FIFA’s strong stance.

Whilst Neuer and co did not suffer any disciplinary action for their gesture, Wenger is of the view that Germany lost focus in their group games due to their position regarding off-field matters.

“You know when you go to a World Cup, you know you can’t lose the first game. The teams who have the experience to perform in tournaments like France and England and Brazil, they played well in the first game,” Wenger said at the World Cup Technical Study Group briefing.

“The teams who were mentally ready, with a mindset to focus on competition, and not the political demonstrations.”

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Despite it being an exciting tournament on the pitch, the World Cup has been shrouded by political statements regarding FIFA’s choice to award Qatar hosting rights.

Concerns have also been raised regarding Qatar’s treatment of migrant workers, alluding in particular, to the workers who are reported to have died during projects related to the tournament.

The host country’s approach to LGBTQ+ rights has also been questioned with homosexuality deemed illegal and punishable by imprisonment.