Joachim Löw, the Germany manager, said he was snubbed by Mesut Özil after the midfielder abruptly retired from international football following the furore over a photo with the Turkey president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, before the World Cup.

The 2014 champions were humiliated when they were condemned to their earliest World Cup exit in 80 years. They went out following the group stage after losing two of their three matches.

Arsenal manager Unai Emery fails to mask friction with Mesut Özil Read more

Özil announced his retirement after his return from in Russia after being widely criticised for posing alongside Erdogan in a photograph that also featured his Germany teammate Ilkay Gündogan in May. Özil, a member of the triumphant 2014 team, said he had faced “racism and disrespect” because of his Turkish roots.

Löw said he had failed in his attempts to contact the Arsenal player and he had been notified of Özil’s retirement by the player’s adviser. “He has not called me. In the past that was the case when players retired [from the national team].” He added that after the adviser’s call, he had called and messaged the player without reply.

“Mesut decided on a different path. I repeatedly tried reaching him via message or phone but that was not possible. I have to accept that.”

Löw rejected Özil’s racism claims. “My only intention was to prepare best for the World Cup. This issue also cost us energy because it was always there. It is no excuse for our performance. That was not the reason. His claims of racism are exaggerated. Nowhere within my team during my time – there has been not even a hint of racism.”

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Germany play the world champions France in Munich as part of the new Nations League competition on 6 September before taking on Peru in a friendly three days later.