Former Germany right-back Philipp Lahm said national team manager Joachim Low must change his leadership style to avoid further international disappointment.
The 2014 World Cup champions shockingly crashed out of the 2018 tournament at the group phase, falling 2-0 to South Korea in their deciding Group F match.
Questions surrounded Low's future following the elimination, but the German Football Association later announced he would be retained as national team boss.
Low guided Germany to success in 2014 with Lahm as the team's captain, but the 34-year-old believes a leadership style that worked in the past must now be adjusted.