While the World Cup is heating up in Qatar, the national team is in full swing when they are out of the preliminary round again. At the same time, Germany is also preparing for the 2024 home European Championship!
554 days remain until the opening. Is that enough to trigger a summer fairy tale feeling in the country like at the 2006 World Cup? During the on-site visit to the venue in Leipzig, Euro tournament director and world champion Philipp Lahm (39) spoke about…
… the World Cup: “I was surprised by that, because of course we have quality in our ranks. The players play for top teams, have international experience and, as a German, you’re not used to being eliminated in the preliminary round.
… the problems of the DFB-Elf: “What we lack is stability, especially on the defensive. A real team never emerged. You just need that. There has to be a team that trusts each other and that has to be the task with a view to the home European Championship.”
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… Hansi Flick as the right coach for the EM 2024: “I’m the Tournament Director. It’s not my job to decide about the national coach. It is important that we find a core again as a team and that represents our values, our country and everyone in it.”
… his hopes for another summer fairy tale: “Of course, sporting success helps, but first and foremost we all have to show that we’re great hosts and that people like coming to us and then say it was great in Germany, we had fun. That must be our goal. Of course I’m happy when the national team goes far and it’s also helpful – you could see that in 2006.”
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… the pad discussion in Qatar: “I would simply say, goal not achieved. Now you can look back and see what went wrong. For us as an organization, the question is also that these issues can also come our way. And how do you deal with it? So it’s important to start thinking about it early on and to talk to the right people so that it doesn’t happen like it did in Qatar.”
… the resignation of Oliver Bierhoff (54) as DFB director “I’m the wrong person to discuss staff. If Germany is eliminated from two World Cups in a row in the preliminary round and in between is eliminated from the European Championship in the round of 16, it is clear that every stone has to be turned and analyzed. But it is more important to find a team that acts together on the pitch.”
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… Ambitions as Bierhoff successor: “I have no ambitions there. I’m glad I can be tournament director, I have a great job and I don’t need anyone else.”
… his World Champion tip in Qatar: “Brazil and France have made a good impression so far. But my favorite is Argentina.”
