Rudi Voeller interview: “World Cup Germany”

Like Manuel Neuer, Rudi Voeller, now director of the German national teams, also said goodbye to Germany, way back in 1992, only to return two years later, on the occasion of the American World Cup. “It was a very different tournament from this one, with some oddities for us Europeans: on the day of the debut, we world champions against Bolivia, in Chicago, all the TVs were tuned to the famous OJ Simpson chase. To tell the truth, many of us didn’t know him well as an American football champion, but as an actor. I think he had starred in a film, what was it called, The Naked Gun?”

Certain. How did you find the United States again, football-wise?
“It’s a completely different situation, you can even joke that Americans now know the rules of football.”

As a world champion player in 1990 and vice-champion coach in 2002, what does your experience teach you? What kind of World Cup do you expect?
“It will be a tough tournament, I’m curious to see how it goes because it’s a new adventure for everyone, with an extra round, the climate and travel. We have to adapt.”

What is Germany’s role?
“We obviously want to make as much progress as possible, but I also say that we would like to be the national team that is difficult to beat. Consider that we lost the first match of the qualifiers, against Slovakia away, then we won nine consecutive matches. We arrive at the start of the tournament in good shape, and it will be important to start off well. The first step is fundamental: we want to finish first even if the group is complicated, with Curaçao we must win, naturally, then the difficulties will increase; Ivory Coast beat France in a friendly, Ecuador will be difficult, when the direct elimination begins, everything changes, we know that.”

Germany is a national team founded on the Bayern block but with other relevant individualities: will a united team be formed?
“Yes, we really have some very strong players. Of course, our squad is not like that of France, Deschamps can also assemble three national teams with the men he could have at his disposal, but we are at a very good level.”

Wirtz and Musiala did not have an exceptional season, for different reasons: will they recover in the national team?
“Certainly, they will be able to recover all their value, because they have a lot of it. Wirtz was in his first year at Liverpool, things didn’t go well but not just for him, but for everyone. We know that the Reds suffered throughout the year, but he also improved a lot physically, he played almost all the matches, he adapted to a more athletic style of football, I’m sure he can have a great World Cup. Musiala suffered a terrible injury, right here a year ago at the Club World Cup; he was out many months, he’s back with Bayern and has started to grow here with us too, but as I see it, he’s training well, it’s not just Wirtz and Musiala who can return to Germany, did you also see what Kai Havertz did in the Champions League final?

Can we say that he is in the most mature moment of his career?
“Of course, I’ve always known him because when he was twelve I took him to Leverkusen: Kai is also in an important phase in terms of how he works as a team: the team spirit is fundamental for us”.

Woltemade they say you look like her: do you agree?
“Physically, in terms of face and hair, but from when I was young. I too have heard these comparisons coming out on the Internet. He’s a good boy, he too will count a lot for us: he suffered in his first year at Newcastle, but little by little he made it. He will serve as much as others because there will be a lot of changes.”

How was Neuer’s return digested by the group?
“Even though he had retired, he had always been in contact with Nagelsmann. We had Oliver Baumann who always played well for the national team, it was also seen in the last friendlies, but Manuel’s experience and presence on the pitch were too important for us. Nothing fazes him, he always seems relaxed but at the same time he is on the ball.”

A surprise at this tournament?
“Everyone says Norway, but I also look at Africa. But ultimately they will always be the big ones.”

Germany too?
“The experts’ favorites are not always the ones who win.”

How did your relatives in Rome take the absence from Italy?
“Everyone is truly sorry. This is not rhetoric or obvious speeches that I hear from many people here. The Azzurri paid for Bastoni’s expulsion. Playing with ten men in today’s football is difficult. I also say this to our players here: a mistake like this is fundamental even now in the World Cup, with this heat and these rhythms. If you make an entry like this as the last man and have to play with ten men for an hour, you lose. Without this mistake, Italy would be at the World Cup.”