Germany is out – and that’s a good thing. Now Löw’s self-deception of the past few years has finally come to an end and Hansi Flick can herald an honest upheaval after the EM. And anyway: It’s time to focus on more important things than football.
Glad it’s finally over. Finally no more rumbling football à la Joachim Löw’s post-2018 era. Finally no more platitudes that have become a ritual after bitter defeats or unnecessary draws. Finally no more self-deception that you actually play great games, have top talent and that with a little time you will have initiated the grandiose upheaval. Germany was eliminated and that’s a good thing.
Because the German national soccer team has not been among the best in the world for at least three years. The World Cup in Russia showed that, the Nations League showed, the World Cup qualification for Qatar showed, the European Championship showed. Even before, during and after the 2018 debacle, it was recognized that Löw lacked new energy, new stimuli and impulses. That he no longer reached the team properly. she no longer felt. This became very clear again at this European Championship. Because like a tournament favorite, the German team only played once against Portugal. A sworn troop was never on the square.
Now the honest review of the past three or four years can finally begin under successor Hansi Flick. An investigation and restructuring that Löw was no longer able to tackle honestly and consistently. There is not much time until the 2022 World Cup: In order for the former Bayern coach to be able to lead the national team back to the top of the world, he must go his way consistently and undeterred – just as he did with the German record champions.
Flick quickly has to find the right system (in Munich he played with a back four, but also had world footballer Robert Lewandowski up front) for the existing staff. He will have to change the team and question aging professionals (Thomas Müller, Mats Hummels, Toni Kroos). If they want to continue at all. Young stars like Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, Ridle Baku, Lukas Nmecha, the already established Kai Havertz and maybe soon teenager Youssoufa Moukoko could become new greats. The new national coach will also build on pillars like Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka.
Flick has to fix deep chains of errors and make changes on both offense and defense. The inadequate exploitation and creation of opportunities. The completely harmless standard situations that fizzle out. The lack of callousness. In general: who in Germany has the potential to be a striker with international potential? The defense must be able to withstand counter-attacks again and must no longer invite the opponent to score goals.
Good that the German team was eliminated. So Hansi Flick once again had to realize how much work he had to do. It remains to be seen whether he will completely turn the store inside out and start a real upheaval. Fortunately, Löw’s self-deception of the past few years, which of course bit the record national coach in the buttocks in the end, will no longer exist.
And anyway: It’s good that the DFB-Elf is out of the pandemic tournament so that society can devote itself to the really important issues again. UEFA is gambling with lives by allowing 60,000 fans to host the EURO semi-finals and final in the Delta stronghold of London. In September, a new chancellor will be elected and the right-wing populist and right-wing extremist AfD, which once again drew attention to itself with anti-queer actions during the European Championship, will move back into the Bundestag. The schools are not yet prepared for the new school year, there is a lack of air filters and there is a lack of political momentum.
It’s a good thing they’re out – it’s just football.