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What comes next for Germany?
The first objective is to get through the game against France without suffering any more damage to the collective ego; Germany are fragile and were completely humiliated by Japan in Wolfsburg. They have the players to attain respectability and Rudi Voller remains popular with the public, so – short term – that should be achievable.
Beyond that, Germany need to settle on a new direction. One of the great flaws of Hansi Flick’s time was their inability to adopt any sort of identity. Nearly every game featured an experiment of sorts and nearly all of those failed to produce any sort of dividend. Playing Nico Schlotterbeck as a left-sided full-back was the latest and last on Saturday night.
Maybe what Germany need more than anything else is conviction. They must settle on a way of playing and find a reliable means of creating chances and preventing goals being scored against them. Flick never knew how to cure either of those issues and, eventually, that seems to have had impacted the players and corroded their self-belief.
A good change now – a start at least – would be the appointment of someone who stands for something. Nobody can immediately solve some of the technical shortcomings within this generation – no No 9, the dearth of outstanding centre-backs or full-backs – but meaningful philosophical change would help restore an identity and recapture the hearts of a country disillusioned with its football team.
ICYMI: Flick sacked as Germany national team coach
Hansi Flick has been dismissed from his position as coach of Germany men’s national team.
It comes following Germany losing 4-1 to Japan in an international friendly at the Volkswagen Arena on Saturday.
Supporters jeered the hosts at the full-time whistle, and Flick’s fate was sealed just one day later.
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Hansi Flick sacked as Germany national team coach
