'Those times are over': Rudi reins in rebuild expectations

BERLIN — Nine months before Euro 2024 kicks off in Germany, the host has turned to Rudi Voeller to get the team back on track after coach Hansi Flick was fired.

Flick became the first Germany coach in history to be relieved of his duties after his side slumped to a 4-1 loss to Japan in Wolfsburg on Saturday, the latest in a run of poor results which included a group-stage exit at the World Cup in Qatar last year.

The German Football Association (DFB) has turned to 1990 World Cup winner Voeller to take over on an interim basis, beginning with a friendly against 2022 World Cup finalist France in Dortmund on Tuesday night.

While Voeller's first point of call will be to inject some pride and stability into the struggling team, his broader task is to right the ship before next year's European Championship on home soil.

Voeller was asked in Dortmund on Monday about whether a well-known statement, commonly attributed to former England striker Gary Lineker — 'Football is a simple game with 11 v 11, and Germany wins at the end' — still rings true.

"Those times are over," Voeller said. "We've been booted out at the group stage in the World Cup twice in a row.

"In the meantime other countries and associations have caught up."

Voeller, who was part of the Flick setup as the DFB's sporting director, was also appointed on an interim basis after Germany's disastrous group-stage exit at Euro 2000.

He took the side all the way to the final at the 2002 World Cup, before losing 2-0 to Brazil, but 63-year-old Voeller said on Sunday this time he will not be in the hot seat for long.

Speaking on Monday, Voeller said his appointment was a "one-time thing" and he would not stay on, regardless of the result against France.

"The most urgent task is to hire a national coach who will quickly get the team back on track and prepare us for the big European Championship next year," Voeller said on Sunday.

He said the dismissal was "not an easy moment for me", adding: "I joined in February to support Hansi Flick so that he could be successful.

"I firmly believed that as a national coach he could manage to get our team back on track."

Germany captain Ilkay Gundogan said on Monday the players were feeling "a mixture of disappointment, sadness and frustration "that their performances cost the coach his job. "I feel like I let Hansi down and the other players feel that way also," Gundogan said.

Voeller will be assisted by Germany Under-20s manager Hannes Wolf and former Bayern Munich striker Sandro Wagner.

Several candidates have been mentioned to take the position on a permanent basis, with Julian Nagelsmann, who replaced Flick at Bayern only to be fired in March, believed to be the front-runner.

Oliver Glasner, who took Eintracht Frankfurt to the Europa League title in 2022 — the club's first European trophy in 40 years — and Matthias Sammer, who won the Bundesliga as Borussia Dortmund coach in 2002, have also been mentioned as possible candidates.

"Obviously there are names that are floating in the discussions we have but I have learned in this business not to comment on any names," Voeller said. "I am convinced that in three and a half weeks we will present a new coach."

He said that would still give time for the coach and team to create a buzz for the Euro host.

"It is important that we quickly start creating some euphoria. That comes with results but with a new person it is possible," he added.

Voeller will need to start by giving the side some defensive stability. Germany is winless in five matches, conceding 13 goals in that time.

"I know the situation and I really did not want to do it. They had to convince me," Voeller said of his interim appointment.

"I felt obliged to help with this game... My goal is to support the new coach as I did with Hansi Flick, but hopefully with better results."

AFP