After the embarrassing end in the group phase of the World Cup in Qatar and the departure of managing director Oliver Bierhoff, the German Football Association is trying to restart. A year and a half before the European Championships at home, officials from FC Bayern, BVB and RB Leipzig should also help to get the national team back on track. However, not everyone likes the newly appointed panel of experts.
On Tuesday, the DFB leadership launched a prominent advisory group, which includes experienced top officials such as Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Matthias Sammer, Oliver Mintzlaff, Oliver Kahn and Rudi Völler. It should help to get the troubled association on the low.
“There will be a first round before Christmas. We will give ourselves a timetable there,” revealed DFB President Bernd Neuendorf in Frankfurt am Main, looking at the advisors: “We need to join forces. We have to join forces towards the EM 2024. It has to be a success.”
Oliver Kahn “out of place” with his job at FC Bayern?
However, there is criticism of the composition of the group. The long-standing Bundesliga manager Horst Heldt is particularly upset by the appointment of Bayern boss Oliver Kahn.
“From my point of view, that bites. I wouldn’t be able to understand that,” commented the 53-year-old on the future balancing act of the Munich decision-maker on “Sky”.
In general, Kahn can contribute constructively with his expertise, “but in this context he is simply out of place,” Heldt judged.
In addition to the expert council, an internal working group will be set up at the DFB with heads of the association such as general secretary Heike Ullrich and EM tournament director Philipp Lahm as well as EM ambassador Celia Sasic.
The German national team was eliminated early in Qatar as third in Group E behind Spain and Japan.