World Cup-winning Germany captain Lothar Matthaus has insisted that his nation did not deserve to advance through the group stages of the 2018 World Cup.

Wednesday's shock 2-0 defeat to South Korea saw Germany finish bottom of Group F on three points.

Die Mannschaft had previously not failed to progress past the group stage of a World Cup since 1938, and Matthaus has admitted that he was "upset with the performance from the players" in Russia.

"Germany didn't perform very well, I think the players were not in the best condition. When you have a performance like the Germans did in the last three games, then I think you don't have the right to go to the next round," Matthaus told Sky Sports News.

"I didn't feel they had the right team spirit. I am not upset with the results, I am more upset with the performance from the players."

Ahead of the match, the president of the German Football Association, Reinhard Grindel, insisted that Joachim Low's position as head coach was safe.