November 24 – German football is still reeling from their 6-0 defeat by Spain, with the German Football Association (DFB) announcing it will review the national team with team manager Oliver Bierhoff at the start of December.
Bierhoff, a Euro 1996 winner with Germany, said after the defeat in Seville that Joachim Loew’s role as head coach was not in question, but Germany’s coach has come under sustained scrutiny following the result.
“In the DFB meeting on Dec. 4 Oliver Bierhoff… will present and evaluate the current situation of the national team,” the DFB said in a statement. “Part of this discussion are the experiences of the defeat against Spain but also the overall development of the team in the past two years.”
Germany exited the 2018 World Cup in the group stages after winning just a single match in Group F with Sweden, Mexico and South Korea. Last week, they conceded 6 goals against Spain in the Nations League in a drubbing that eclipsed the 8-3 loss at the 1954 World Cup against Hungary. It was Germany’s heaviest defeat since 1931. It was also the second time that the Germans failed to make the final four of the UEFA tournament.
Loew first took charge of Germany in 2006 and won the world crown with his team in 2014, but his attempt at rebuilding the team since the last global finals has been difficult. The coach decided to let the old guard of Thomas Muller, Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels go, but those veterans were sorely missed against the Spanish.
“The DFB board unanimously agreed on the roadmap in order to collect insights and evaluate them and discuss them. It gives the national team coach time and emotional distance in order to process the current situation,” read the statement. “On a sporting level to analyse the reasons for the clear defeat in Seville and on a personal level to process the big frustration. That is the proper thing to do.”
In March, Germany take to the field again when the World Cup qualifiers for the 2022 tournament in Qatar get underway. Those matches will be followed by a a few friendlies to warm up for the European Championship. The Germans have been drawn alongside Portugal, France and Hungary in Group F.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1734919798labto1734919798ofdlr1734919798owedi1734919798sni@o1734919798fni1734919798