When Hansi Flick took cost of the German nationwide group in 2021, he introduced with him a formidable successful streak and a pledge to steer the four-time world champions again to their former glory.
However, after struggling a surprising 2-0 defeat at dwelling towards Colombia on Tuesday, Flick’s early credit score appears to have dwindled quickly.
The Germans, who’re set to host Euro 2024, have stumbled of their latest worldwide matches, dropping to Poland and settling for a 3-3 draw towards war-ravaged Ukraine this month.
German media retailers wasted no time in questioning Flick’s suitability for the job, conducting on-line polls that requested, “Is he the right man for the job?” Kicker soccer journal chimed in with a scathing remark, stating, “A year before the Euros, it appears that the coach and his team have lost their way entirely.”
With lower than a yr to arrange a squad for the continental event and reignite enthusiasm within the nation, Germany finds themselves in a precarious place.
They required two late targets to salvage a draw towards Ukraine, solely to endure a 1-0 defeat in Warsaw final Friday.
Their efficiency towards Colombia in Gelsenkirchen was much more disheartening, as Flick’s gamers lacked urgency and did not make an impression within the assault.
Germany have received simply certainly one of their final 5 matches since their surprising group stage exit from the World Cup in December, and so they have managed to safe victories in solely three of their final 11 outings.
When Flick assumed the managerial function two years in the past, Germany had simply skilled a round-of-16 exit on the Euros in 2021, following their first World Cup group stage elimination in over 80 years in 2018.
Flick gave the impression to be the best candidate for the job, given his outstanding six-trophy run with Bayern Munich in 2020 and his profitable stint as Joachim Loew’s assistant coach, which culminated in Germany’s triumphant 2014 World Cup marketing campaign in Brazil.
However, regardless of his assurances that the group will bear a major transformation of their upcoming internationals in September, Flick now finds himself backed towards the wall.
“We will witness a different team,” Flick affirmed. “We will stabilize and fine-tune our squad. We remain optimistic for September because we firmly believe in the talent and potential of our team.”
Germany is scheduled to face Japan on Sept. 9, adopted by a conflict towards France three days later.
They will then embark on a journey to North America to tackle the United States on Oct. 14.
However, German followers are rising more and more impatient, as they’ve but to witness any clear indicators of a resurgence in latest months.
“Flick’s proclamation that things ‘will be different in September’ now sounds like nothing more than a morale-boosting slogan,” criticized Kicker.
As the one-year countdown to the Euros begins, so does the countdown for Flick to ship on his guarantees by September.
The stress is mounting, and Flick should shortly discover a option to rejuvenate the group and regain the belief of disillusioned supporters.
Source: www.dailysabah.com