BERLIN (AP) — As next year’s European Championship looms, the German host hopes to begin repairing its men’s soccer team’s battered reputation this week.
Two World Cup failures and poor functionality in the middle wreaked havoc on what is a proud legacy for Germany. The four-time World Cup winner no longer scares his opponents.
The German Football Association will replace that before the country hosts Euro 2024. This is a chance to repair lost pride, but with the prospect of more shame.
The crusade kicks off this week with friendlies Peru in Mainz on Saturday and Belgium in Cologne 3 days later.
The federation gave coach Hansi Flick the chance to lead the team after his death. It has also hired the former German striker and coach to oversee what he hopes will be a success.
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Former coach Joachim Löw attempted a reshuffle after Germany exited in the first round of the 2018 World Cup, then dropped it after Spain beat it 6-0 at Euro 2020 with a delay due to the coronavirus. This only led his team to the circular moment, where he in charge.
Flick bets on more luck with the new in youth, construction. Flick called up six debutants for the matches against Peru and Belgium, leaving out regulars such as Müller, Leroy Sané, Ilkay Gündogan, Antonio Rüdiger and Marco Reus, among others. other.
“We went in that direction to see which players are entitled to be in the European Championship next year,” Flick said.
Bayer Leverkusen’s attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz, 19, is the new star of the German national team, especially with the 20-year-old Bayern Munich in upcoming matches due to injury. Both were already established players for the senior team, Wirtz missed the World Cup. Cup last November due to a knee injury.
Perhaps to underline Germany’s new religion in the formation of its youngsters, under-21 coach Antonio Di Salvo made the impression alongside Flick and Völler at Monday’s press conference.
Di Salvo is preparing his squad for the European Under-21 Championship in Georgia and Romania this summer, but said he was pleased to see players like AC Milan defender Malick Thiaw get his chance with Flick’s first team.
“It’s an honour for the players. It is also an honour for all the coaches involved in the club’s journey towards the under-21 team,” said Di Salvo.
Völler also the importance of the German minor teams.
“I’m part of the under-21 team,” said Völler, whose goals helped West Germany win the 1990 World Cup.
Völler, now 62, said Germany’s good fortune at the 1982 European Under-21 Championship, where his team reached the final, laid the groundwork for winning the 1990 World Cup. He also referred to 2009 European champions Manuel Neuer, Sami Khedira, Benedikt Höwedes, Mesut Özil and others who helped Germany win the World Cup in 2014.
“This is the basis for us,” said Völler, who said all of Flick and Di Salvo’s players had a chance to play for Germany at Euro 2024.
“It’s fortunate that we have this glorious European Championship here next year. It’s vital for each and every player and it shows the young players, especially those here, how wonderful it is to have such a wonderful tournament in your own country. “Völler said: “Every tournament is incredibly vital and helps you keep going. But organizing a tournament in your own country is something special.
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