Hamburg - Germany coach Jochim Loew has criticised the attitude of some players and said the recent disputes with captain Michael Ballack and Torsten Frings were harmful for the team's image.

Loew told Wednesday's edition of the Sport-Bild weekly that professional players should accept being benched and not express their dissatisfaction in public.

"There is a growing tendency that players express their dissatisfaction as soon as they are benched. We would do good to talk about the quality of football instead of players' sensitivities," Loew said.

"The performance of a team is the deciding factor, not the individual."

Loew said he will talk to all players about the issue ahead of next Wednesday's friendly with England in Berlin.

The issue made headlines last month when Frings complained about being benched in two World Cup qualifiers and then Ballack also criticised Loew over his selection criteria. In addition, forward Kevin Kuranyi walked out of the team.

Ballack and Frings were forced to apologise to Loew in personal meetings. Kuranyi also expressed his regret but Loew said he won't pick him again.

"That was bad for the team because it at least temporarily influenced or possible changed the positive image of the national team," Loew told Sport-Bild. (dpa)