The German national team is in one of its biggest crises after the 1:4 defeat against Japan. Will national coach Hans-Dieter Flick be retained?
Germany has been without a win for five international matches and has suffered three defeats in a row. The supposed new beginning after the preliminary round exit at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar led the German national team into one of its biggest crises. National coach Hans-Dieter Flick is largely responsible. The question after the disastrous 1:4 in Wolfsburg against Japan: Will he stay in office?
Neuendorf doesn’t talk about Flick
DFB President Bernd Neuendorf has not yet wanted to comment on Flick. But nine months before the European Championships in Germany, the national coach is probably difficult to hold on to after the World Cup preliminary round exit and now three defeats in a row. Even though sports director Rudi Völler at RTL recommended that everyone “calm down” and “sleep on it for a night”.
DFB President Bernd Neuendorf
He doesn’t despair, said Flick in an interview with Sportschau after the game. “We have to put that aside and look forward. It’s part of life that you have to take defeats with you. Of course: we definitely have too many of them at the moment. It’s not nice, but it’s going to continue.” He wants to continue.
Hardly any alternatives for Flick – and little time
Four test matches have so far been scheduled before the European Championships in Germany in 2024, and a few more will be added in March and shortly before the tournament. Will there now be a quick change in order to turn things around?
There are only a few alternatives, and everyone involved was happy about Flick signing his contract after the end of the Joachim Löw era. One of the few conceivable candidates is former Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann. Media also speculated with the former Frankfurt player Oliver Glasner and with Borussia Dortmund’s advisor Matthias Sammer. One thing is clear: there is little time for a change in content with a new philosophy and game idea.
Schedule Germany Date Opponent 12.09.23 France 14.10.23 USA 18.10.23 Mexico 21.11.23 Austria 18.-26.03.24 International match window 14.06.24 European Championship opening
The new captain Gündogan says: “The team has to question itself”
Ilkay Gündogan, whom Flick had quickly named as the new captain, made a clear diagnosis. “Japan was better than us in almost all respects. It felt like everyone was struggling with themselves,” said Gündogan. There is great uncertainty and no self-confidence.
What would happen next with Flick remained unclear in the evening after the debacle against Japan. On Tuesday, Germany will play against runner-up world champion France in Dortmund (9 p.m., live on Erste).
