What happens next for the DFB?: German football descends into chaos

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For the first time in the history of the German Football Association, a national coach was fired. Of all people, Hansi Flick (58), Bayern’s celebrated three-time coach a few years ago, was affected. It happened now, nine months before the start of the European Championship at home in 2024. The dismissal will be expensive for the DFB – around 4.5 million euros will still flow into Flick’s account until Flick’s contract is terminated in 2024 expires.

But that didn’t stop the DFB from pulling the cord after the humiliating 4-1 defeat to Japan. “It was simply no longer possible in this constellation,” says sports director Rudi Völler (63). Now it is Völler himself who takes an interim seat on the DFB bench. For the friendly match against France, he will be in charge together with the U20 duo Hannes Wolf (42) and Sandro Wagner (35).

What happens next is still completely open. Matthias Sammer (56) and Julian Nagelsmann (36) are traded, and the name Jürgen Klopp (56) is also floating around. It is also conceivable that Völler will continue if his comeback to the coaching bench is fruitful. In any case, the DFB wants to find a solution during the American tour in October.

The “Quälix” itself comes into play

Because: The European Championship in your own country is getting closer and there is not much time left. After a disastrous year with four defeats in six games, the German team must get back on its feet as quickly as possible. One person who would dare to do that is HSV legend Felix Magath (70). The persistent coaching fox nicknamed “Quälix” immediately puts himself in play as a DFB coaching candidate in a conversation with “NDR”.

“I think I am able to help troubled teams up,” said Magath. Crisis management is his specialty: “In some cases I have led teams from the bottom of the table to midfield or even back to the top of the Bundesliga. And I think that’s what the DFB needs at the moment.”

Gündogan looks deeply

Statements by captain Ilkay Gündogan (32) show how difficult it can be to get this DFB team back on track. The Barça star appeared before the media on Monday evening to explain his position – and mercilessly stuck his finger in the wound. “We didn’t always have world-class players, but we always had a world-class team. Now we only have world-class players.”

According to Gündogan, there is an urgent need to work on the team structure. The World Cup in Qatar, which was catastrophic for Germany in every respect, and the DFB’s toxic relationship with its base seem to have left their mark. At least – the captain does not shirk his responsibility and sticks his head out for the missed tap. “As a player I feel like I let Hansi down. And some others feel the same way.”

Action must follow now

But these kinds of slogans are not enough. Visible changes are now needed on the playing field. And fast. An expert on German football also sees it that way. French Bayern legend Bixente Lizarazu (53) calls the playing style of the DFB team “far too naive”. The Germans have major shortcomings, especially in the tactical field. Moreover, the defense lacks the necessary speed.

His assessment of the state of German football is devastating: “Since the 2014 World Cup, that is to say for almost ten years, the German team has been languishing,” said the 1998 world champion. Lizarazu sees no easy solution. On the contrary. German football can only get out of this valley with hard work. “The whole model needs to be redesigned, there needs to be changes in the structures and there also needs to be something new in youth work.”

But the DFB doesn’t have that time. The kick-off for the European Championships will take place in a few months. The hope was that it would be another summer fairy tale. But right now, Germany is not waiting for a fairytale next year, but rather a nightmare.

Source : Blick