Hansi Flick stays, that is the result of the DFB crisis meeting after the recent World Cup debacle. A large part of the squad will probably stay. The national coach still has to make changes for the upcoming home European Championship in 2024, says tournament director Philipp Lahm.
Philipp Lahm is concerned. The former world champion captain is currently touring the venues as tournament director of the EM 2024, and wherever he goes he says the same, doubtful sentences. A summer fairy tale 2.0? Phew, difficult. But Lahm was solution-oriented even as a player – and so he now has an idea of ??how things could turn out. “Of course, sporting success helps,” he says. And the national coach is responsible for that.
Despite the fiasco in his first tournament as boss, Hansi Flick is going into the 18 months until the European Championships with a great leap of faith. But with the backing of the DFB, there are also clear expectations: in 2024 the national team should be ready for the title again, please!
But how? Lame knows what to do. “It is important that we find a core again as a team – and that represents our values, our country and everyone in it.” His former world champion colleague Toni Kroos is completely with him. “I think that from the first international match after the tournament, the absolute goal must be to find a permanent eleven,” says the Real Madrid professional in his podcast “Einfach mal luppen”. The home EM offers a huge opportunity, “you don’t get laid out on the red carpet any better”.
But there will also be difficult moments at home. And “if a game threatens to tip over”, it needs automatisms. “Being well-rehearsed always gives you support,” says Kroos: “Then everyone has the feeling that I can cling to something.” Putting this eleven together shouldn’t be about “making everyone happy”. That means: Flick can no longer take big names or club membership into account. He has to question his loyalty to deserved stars like Manuel Neuer or Thomas Müller and to the whole Bayern block.
Like ?lkay Gündo?an, Müller is pondering his future in the DFB team. Lothar Matthäus advises him to focus on Bayern Munich. “We have a lot of potential for the future in his position,” he says – World Cup bright spot Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, Kai Havertz, Leroy Sané, Serge Gnabry, Timo Werner, Karim Adeyemi and Youssoufa Moukoko. So why, asked Matthew, should Müller “still do this to himself?”
Lahm also sees “quality in our ranks. The players play for top teams and have international experience,” he says. But he worries about the defense. “What we lack is stability, especially on the defensive.” But this could be gotten under control with the conjured up familiarity. “There has to be a team that trusts each other,” says Lahm, “that has to be the task, with a view to the European Championship.”
Flick has 13 or 14 caps to find the EM team. “Every game is incredibly important for this national team from now on,” says Kroos. He says that the DFB selection as hosts only has test matches until the tournament “just fine. You can look for top opponents. I don’t think there is a better starting position”.