August 11 – New Germany coach Hansi Flick has promised an “all-in mentality” as Die Mannschaft seeks to bounce back from a disappointing summer and enter the post-Low era.
Germany limped out of Euro 2020 with a meek 2-0 capitulation against England, bringing the Joachim Low epoch to an end in disappointing fashion. There was to be no last hooray for the longstanding manager, who led Germany to the world crown in 2014.
“It’s so important that we produce an all-in mentality,” said Flick at a news conference on Tuesday. “What that means for me is that we need to give everything to walk off the pitch as winners. The players have to show that they want to play for Germany, that they’re focused on what lies ahead. It’s the example we’ll set and it’s what we’ll expect.”
German fans have of course heard promises of a fresh start, attractive football and great results before, but this time there is a firm believe that the new coach can get the national team back on the right track. Germany crashed out of the 2018 World Cup in the first round, disappointed in the second edition of the Nations League and never convinced at the recent European Championship.
However, Flick, who won seven titles in 20 months at Bayern Munich, defended the record of his former boss. “If you put the last three years to one side, the years before that we reached the semifinals of every major tournament, two titles won, the World Cup and the Confed Cup,” said Flick.
“The work he did for the DFB and for German football, above all internationally was enormous. I have a lot to thank him for because he always pushed me and showed me how important it is to take a team on a journey with you.”
On August 26, Flick will name his first squad ahead of September’s World Cup qualifiers with a triple header against Lichtenstein, Armenia and Iceland. After three matches, Germany sit in third place behind both Armenia and North Macedonia. In March, they suffered a shock 1-2 defeat against the charges of then coach Igor Angelovski.
“I believe those that followed my time at Bayern know the style of football that both my team and I stand for,” said Flick. “I’m expecting us to be active and show on the pitch that we know we’re the best players in Germany by seizing the initiative.”
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