To say Mesut Ozil's 2018 World Cup campaign was a disaster would be being polite.The playmaker has received criticism from far and wide about his performances in Russia, with team manager Oliver Bierhoff even saying he regretted taking the Arsenal man.Much of the criticism stems from his controversial meeting with Turkish president Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan shortly before the tournament kicked off.Both he and Ilkay Gundogan were pictured with the president, which led to German fans booing the pair in their World Cup warmup game against Saudi Arabia.The odds were stacked against Ozil from the start and his failures on the pitch were always going to be exaggerated.In truth, he was just one of many poor performers, with Jerome Boateng, Sami Khedira and Thomas Muller arguably worse than Ozil.The Arsenal man has remained silent in the weeks after Germany's elimination but he has finally spoken out about it all in a series of tweets.

OZIL'S TWEETS

It was certainly time he spoke out and he's explained his situation in some serious detail.

Despite his message to German fans, his international career is still hanging by a thread.

Ozil's father, Mustafa, recently stated that he wanted his son to announce his retirement from the national side.

He said: "This statement is insolent. In my opinion, it is aimed at saving one's own skin.

"[Ozil] no longer wants to explain himself, he no longer wants to have to defend himself all the time. He has been playing for nine years in the German team... including becoming world champions with the A-team.

"He has contributed a lot for this country. It has always been: if we win, we win together. He needs to decide for himself. But if I were in his place, I'd say - thanks a lot but that's it!"