Per Mertesacker discusses Germany's identity crisis but insists the national side will bounce back

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Former Germany defender and 2014 World Cup winner Per Mertesacker said on Tuesday that his country "will bounce back" following a poor performance at the inaugural UEFA Nations League and an unexpected group stage exit as defending champions at last year's World Cup in Russia.

Mertesacker, who has launched his new book 'BFG - Big Friendly German, My Autobiography' in the UK, helped Germany to win their first World Cup for 24 years in Brazil in 2014, but believes 'Die Mannschaft' are suffering an "identity crisis" at the moment.

As part of the rebuilding process following Germany's shock exit at the World Cup, head coach Joachim Low said he would not select experienced trio Mats Hummels, Jerome Boateng and Thomas Muller again, while Mesut Ozil announced his international retirement after claiming "racism and disrespect" from Germany's football federation, following his controversial meeting with Turkey president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.