After recent meager performances by the national team, national coach Hansi Flick is under pressure about a year before the home European Championship. Ilkay Gündogan should aim it against Colombia.
The German national football team and their coach Hansi Flick wanted to use the three test international matches against Ukraine (3: 3), Poland (0: 1) and Colombia on Tuesday to gain self-confidence around a year before the start of the European Championship in their own country and find a scaffolding that will lead the team there to success. In addition, the DFB-Elf wanted to spark the much-needed EM euphoria in the country.
Völler: No debate about the national coach
But after the meager performances in the first two games, Flick suddenly finds himself confronted with speculation about his position. So much so that even Rudi Völler had to intervene. The DFB director did what was expected of him and defended the criticized flick with ardor and made it clear that there is no debate about the national coach at the German Football Association. Völler did that credibly. After all, he is a media professional. And DFB President Bernd Neuendorf also says: “To proclaim the end of the West directly is completely exaggerated.”
Flick needs a win
But the mechanics of the business are inexorable. If the national team says goodbye to the long international break with another setback against Colombia and the season opener in September against World Cup terror Japan and vice-world champions France also fails, then the coaching discussion will be in full swing. Because there are only nine months left until the home World Cup. In short: The pressure before the game in Gelsenkirchen against the South Americans is huge and the game is suddenly enormously important for Flick. A victory is needed – and to soothe the soul of the people, preferably a convincing one. Völler also demands: “It’s not a friendly on Tuesday. We have to show people that they can count on us.”
The fact is: It is much more than an earnings crisis. There have been just four wins in the past 15 internationals – against an Italian B-Elf, Oman, Costa Rica and Peru. The national team has been disappointing regularly for more or less five years. There is neither a solid system nor a well-rehearsed axis to be able to fall back on it at any time. The DFB selection lacks conviction and automatism.
Flick stoically: “Believe in us”
Flick is relaxed, of course he accepts the criticism: “The results leave little room for anything else”he says, but also emphasizes: “We believe in our path, we’re convinced of our path. But it will look very different in September. In September we will see a team that will have the success that we want.”
He believes that Flick has a master plan for a successful tournament. The tactical and personal experiments (the last game against Poland there were nine changes in the starting XI) are allowed. But whether it will work out in the end, the master plan, is uncertain. “The team is developing”Flick says over and over again.
Much praise for Gundogan
It should be directed against Colombia Champions League-Winner Ilkay Gundogan. The man from Manchester City will start against the ten-game unbeaten Colombians.
Flick describes him as “Very important player. On and off the pitch.” Gündogan is a player who “every team absolutely helps and accordingly also us”said Robin Gosens: “We all followed what Ilkay did this season.” With the “citizens” Gündogan also had the English championship as captain of the star selection of coach Pep Guardiola as well as the FA Cup won. He decided the cup final in a 2-1 win over city rivals Manchester United with two goals.
“He’s a very important player who comes here with a lot of confidence because of the season he played and his club played.”said Gosens: “If he manages to contribute here, and he manages to do that, he has proven that in the past, then he is a huge added value as a leader, as a very experienced player, as a player who has won a lot in his career, and as a player , who has also had to deal with defeats.”
Gundogan with positive energy and calm
It remains to be seen whether Gündogan, who has been chosen as the savior, can turn things around on his own. He doesn’t see himself as such. “I will try to get to my level of performance and help the team as much as possible”he says: “I can bring in a lot of positive energy and a certain calmness. We mustn’t get too active now. We know our strengths and have to call on them on the pitch.”