After the World Cup disaster in Qatar, DFB President Bernd Neuendorf called a crisis meeting with national coach Hansi Flick, national team director Oliver Bierhoff and DFL supervisory board chairman Hans-Joachim Watzke for the coming week. The national team has meanwhile arrived back in Germany after the premature end of the World Cup.
Before the departure of the German national soccer team from Doha, Neuendorf announced on Friday (December 2nd, 2022) that the early failure would be dealt with in detail. “My expectation of the sporting management is that they carry out an initial analysis at this meeting, a sporting analysis of this tournament, but that they also develop perspectives for the time after the tournament with a view to the European Championships in their own country”, Neuendorf said in a statement at Doha Airport.
The early World Cup hurt “extraordinary” and be one for him “big disappointment”. The DFB had traveled to Qatar with great ambitions, after the debacle in Russia four years ago, they thought they were on their way back to the top of the world.
Personnel consequences – Neuendorf wants to wait for analysis
Initially, there should not be any personal consequences. “We take the first step before the second”, said Neuendorf, but gave no job guarantees for the sporting leadership team. National coach Flick and Bierhoff had ruled out resigning after the 4-2 win against Costa Rica, which saw the DFB team miss the round of 16. Both have a contract until the summer of 2024.
No “keep it up” like after the World Cup 2018
The four-time world champion Germany was eliminated in Qatar for the second time after 2018 in the preliminary round of a World Cup and thus sealed the end of its reputation as a “tournament team”. Neuendorf said he was “A big believer in clear procedures. We initiated that.” Discussions should be conducted with respect and confidentiality. He does not want to issue any water level reports, but only go public with a result. Apparently there shouldn’t be a “continue like this” like after the 2018 World Cup.
Neuendorf has only been in office as DFB President since March of this year. He now has to deal with a failure of the DFB flagship for the first time and is under a lot of pressure himself before the European Championship in his own country. The EM opening game will take place on June 14, 2024 in Munich. A good 18 months remain until then.
DFB players back in Germany – or on vacation
The DFB entourage left the World Cup base in Al-Ruwais on Friday morning. With the team bus, support vehicles and police escort, we went to the international airport in Doha. Flight LH343 took off there at 12.30 p.m. for home.
FC Bayern players back in Munich
At around 6:15 p.m., the plane landed in Munich for a stopover. There, among others, the FC Bayern players around Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich and Thomas Müller ended their failed World Cup mission. Defender Antonio Rüdiger also dropped out in Munich.
National team captain Manuel Neuer at the airport in Munich
Thomas Müller: “I feel medium”
As the only player, Thomas Müller said a few words to the waiting journalists: “I’m medium.” Müller had vaguely indicated his resignation immediately after the World Cup in the sports show.
Leroy Sané did not quit
Leroy Sané was the only Bayern player not to get out in Munich. According to Sportschau information, however, not all DFB players had flown back to Germany. Some travel home on their own responsibility or on to holiday destinations such as Dubai. In his capacity as DFB President, Neuendorf will remain at the World Cup in Qatar.