Sstriker Niclas Füllkrug has clearly criticized the public handling of the national soccer team. “I’m not afraid to make the statement and stand by it: It’s shocking how much resentment the national team was shown by the public in Germany – after the Japan game and later after the preliminary round elimination. I find that extremely unfortunate,” said the 29-year-old Bundesliga professional from Werder Bremen to the “Sport Bild” newspaper.
Even as a spectator after the 2018 World Cup in Russia, he had the feeling “that the national team is sometimes wished for failure rather than success. I don’t know why that is. I can only say one thing: every player on the pitch is incredibly proud to wear the German jersey.”
Further criticism of the DFB Commission
The DFB selection was eliminated at the World Cup in Qatar after the preliminary round. Four points from three Group E games against Japan, Spain and Costa Rica had not been enough to qualify for the knockout rounds. The selection of national coach Hansi Flick only managed to win in the final group game against Costa Rica. The team did manage to snatch a point against Spain after suffering a painful opening defeat by Japan.
As a result of this failure, DFB director Oliver Bierhoff resigned, but national coach Flick was given the confidence of the German Football Association (DFB). He should now lead the national team to a successful home European Championship in 2024. In the association itself, a new commission of experts is to deal with the future of German football.
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Meanwhile, this group criticized former national coach and world champion Steffi Jones for being too one-sided. “I have nothing against the gentlemen sitting in there. But there could have been a lot more diversity, for example with someone international,” said Jones of the German Press Agency. The former director of the DFB turns 50 on Thursday.
“You might need an outsider’s perspective from another sport,” Jones continued. After the preliminary round in Qatar, the committee was entrusted with the realignment of the men’s national team, and should also discuss the future appointment of the former managing director Bierhoff. The expert group is headed by DFB President Bernd Neuendorf and Vice President Hans-Joachim Watzke. Other members are Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Rudi Völler, Oliver Kahn, Matthias Sammer and Oliver Mintzlaff.
For Jones, a woman should have been one of the experts. There are enough candidates such as national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, former DFB coach Silvia Neid, DFB manager Doris Fitschen or national goalkeeper Almuth Schult and former national player Tabea Kemme. Voss-Tecklenburg also criticized the composition of the football expert council: “Personally, I’m missing a bit of a mix.”
Jones was world champion in 2003 and European champion three times, but was unsuccessful as national coach (2016 to 2018). From 2008 to 2011 she was President of the Organizing Committee for the 2011 Women’s World Cup in Germany and then Director of the DFB. Born in Frankfurt, she hopes that the DFB will have a team by the time of the home European Championship in 2024 “that embodies passion and identification. If that works, then you are Morocco,” she said, referring to the successful outsiders from Africa at the World Cup, “then you will also successfully compete in the tournament.”
