Lothar Matthäus has renewed his criticism of national coach Hansi Flick after the German national team’s disastrous start to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
“I didn’t understand some things about the line-up against Japan. National coach Hansi Flick is my friend, I stand by him one hundred percent. But among friends you can be honest, you even have to be: he coached himself against Japan,” wrote the German record national player on Thursday in his “Bild” column.
Matthäus had already criticized Flick on Wednesday shortly after the 1: 2 against Japan.
Specifically, Matthäus criticized the changes and the starting line-up of the former head coach of FC Bayern: “Süle is not a full-back. Schlotterbeck is not ready yet. Raum acts far too offensively, works too little backwards. Kimmich and Gündogan have taken each other’s spaces. Gnabry wasn’t good at one-on-one. Havertz – that was far too little!”
His demand: “Rebuild the team. Don’t throw everything overboard, but correct a few essential things.” Matthäus called for Freiburg’s Christian Günter for left-back and Thilo Kehrer for right-back, Süle or Matthias Ginter would have to move into the centre.
Football World Cup 2022: Lothar Matthäus makes clear demands
In addition, boss Joshua Kimmich should play in midfield alongside his Munich colleague Leon Goretzka, “that also stabilizes. Then pull Gündogan forward and Musiala on the half-left.”
If Flick sticks to his 4-2-3-1 system as announced, “Füllkrug has to come in as a real nine,” said Matthäus.
In addition, “all distractions must end immediately,” said the 61-year-old in view of the Zoff over “One Love”.
It’s important to show attitude and set an example, “but things like that get in the way when you’re concentrating on the essentials.”