Author: Shreyas Sharma
In a shocking turn of events, Hansi Flick has been sacked as coach of the German national soccer team. The German Football Association (DFB) made the announcement on Sunday, just one day after Germany’s humiliating
Germany’s 4-1 defeat to Japan
in Wolfsburg. The defeat was the last straw in a series of disappointing performances under Flick, leading to his dismissal along with assistants Marcus Sorg and Danny Röhl.
Flick, who took over in 2021, has had a less than stellar record as Germany coach. In 25 matches, he managed just 12 wins, with seven draws and six defeats, for a success rate of just 57.3%. The year 2023 was particularly difficult as the team suffered four defeats in six games, including losses to Belgium, Poland and Colombia. To make matters worse, Germany was eliminated in the group stage of the World Cup in December 2022.
Rudi Völler, the DFB’s current director of national teams, has been appointed interim coach. Along with him, Hannes Wolf and Sandro Wagner will be part of the technical team. His immediate challenge is a friendly against France, scheduled for Tuesday. However, the DFB is keen to find a permanent replacement soon, especially with Germany set to host the European Championships in just nine months’ time.
In a statement, Völler acknowledged the efforts of Flick and his technical team, but emphasized the need for change. “Hansi Flick gave his all to get back on track after being eliminated at the World Cup in Qatar and change for the better. Unfortunately, we have to admit today that there was no success. The game against Japan clearly showed that we will no longer be able to make any progress in this situation,” said Völler.
The DFB now faces the difficult task of revitalizing an underperforming team and preparing it for the demanding task of hosting the next European Championship. With time running out, the Federation will have to act quickly and decisively to turn the tide and meet the high expectations of being one of the most powerful soccer nations.