The pressure on the DFB is increasing. A decision has to be made. “The situation does not leave us unaffected,” says national goalkeeper Merle Frohms: “We have confidence in those responsible to find a solution for everyone as quickly as possible.” The clear message: German women’s football cannot afford another international break with an unresolved coaching question. The uncertainty was already palpable in the 2-0 defeat in the Nations League in Denmark last Friday.
After the 4-0 win against Iceland, the German footballers have now clearly positioned themselves in the Martina Voss-Tecklenburg case. No more limbo – that was the unanimous message on Tuesday evening in Bochum. “It is now time for a decision to be made and for there to be clarity,” said midfielder Lena Lattwein after the DFB women’s first victory in the Nations League, with which they preserved their Olympic chances. “It’s not a good situation for us that we have no certainty.” Other players expressed similar sentiments. Captain Alexandra Popp said: “Of course we need clarity as to exactly what will happen next. We will enter into an exchange with the DFB.”
As in the 2-0 loss in Denmark, previous assistant Britta Carlson sat on the bench instead of Voss-Tecklenburg, who was on sick leave. The fact that Carlson will also be the boss at the next two international matches on October 27th in Sinsheim against Wales and on October 31st in Iceland is now considered out of the question – even if, according to the 45-year-old, this is contractually possible.
Voss-Tecklenburg’s return to coaching is uncertain. Carlson hasn’t spoken to her longtime confidant on the phone in weeks. She said she kept the 55-year-old up to date with text messages.
“We have the information, she’s not feeling well.”
What the national coach thinks and how she plans – it is officially unclear. National player Lattwein said she had no information about Voss-Tecklenburg’s health: “I don’t know how she is doing at the moment. We have the info, she’s not feeling well. It may also take a while for her to come back – if she does come back. Everything that follows now is a matter for the DFB.” The association informed about Voss-Tecklenburg’s absence due to illness on September 8th. The 55-year-old’s contract is valid until 2025 – this and the protection against dismissal in the event of illness make the matter so complex and tricky for the DFB.
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After recovering, the national coach who has been criticized should first be allowed to comment on internal allegations (tactical errors, poor communication, unsuitable World Cup quarters) before personnel decisions are made. The smartest thing would be for the DFB to fill the vacant position of someone responsible for the women’s national team first so that he can be involved in the coaching question. Now, according to information from SPORT BILD, there is an exciting idea internally at the association: Voss-Tecklenburg could be promoted to the new boss position and the team will get a new coaching staff.
Martina Voss-Tecklenburg
Source: dpa/Sebastian Gollnow
The advantages: Voss-Tecklenburg has recently taken part in many of the tasks that fall to the director. So she knows what’s important. In addition, the DFB would save a salary if it received Voss-Tecklenburg’s contract and could use her workforce. And: The current criticism of the national coach is primarily aimed at the constellation. Meaning: As a coach, she seems to be worn out for this team. However, no one in the association or the league denies her skills in women’s football – especially in the position to be filled.
But the solution also has pitfalls. The biggest one is that no one knows how Voss-Tecklenburg feels about it. Conversations of any kind, including this kind, can only be had after the illness has been overcome. The DFB hopes that this will be possible from next week.
“In the end, I don’t care who is standing there,” says Popp
There are other candidates for the position. The wish of many players is Almuth Schult. The 32-year-old national goalkeeper, who had her third child in August, is intensively involved in the process as a member of the team council despite missing the World Cup. According to reports, she is even in charge of internal communication. But Schult is currently leaning towards trying to make a comeback on the field again. Wolfsburg maker Ralf Kellermann is also considered a candidate. The 55-year-old comes from VfL to the DFB with the recommendation of 19 titles in the past ten years.
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Who would follow Voss-Tecklenburg as national coach and perhaps work under her? Stefan Kuntz should be the favorite for the players and the association. As the men’s U21 national coach, the 60-year-old had an intensive and good connection with Voss-Tecklenburg. Kuntz was relieved of his duties in Turkey just a few days ago. The DFB did not comment on the SPORT BILD report. “I have no information about this,” said a spokeswoman when asked. The DFB must act quickly. The next international matches are at the end of October.
Whoever is the national coach can obviously plan with goal scorer Alexandra Popp. The captain has hinted at further appearances in the national team, at least in the next international matches. When asked whether she would still be there in the two games on October 27th in Sinsheim against Wales and on October 31st in Iceland, the 32-year-old said cautiously in the affirmative: “I think.” When asked whether the duel against Iceland was her last international match, she replied: “We have now won a game, but I think that we do not yet have a certain clarity and security in the team to say goodbye.”
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Popp doesn’t want to commit to a medium-term future in the national team. “Basically it’s open as long as we don’t have this security on the pitch again,” said the VfL Wolfsburg goalscorer. Before the 2-0 defeat against Denmark last week, she said that her future in the selection beyond the current international matches was open.
She doesn’t make her decision dependent on what happens to national coach Voss-Tecklenburg or a possible successor solution. “In the end, I don’t care who is there,” said Popp: “I just want my team to find their security again on the pitch. That we can play the football we can play again. That’s just what I want and then we’ll see what my decision will be.” Her contract with VfL Wolfsburg runs until the summer of 2025.
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