Game one after Flick: Germany returns to winning ways

Germany’s national soccer team improved greatly in game one after Hansi Flick and presented a much more compact performance and defeated runner-up world champion France 2-1 (1-0) in Dortmund under the direction of the interim trio Rudi Völler, Sandro Wagner and Hannes Wolf. FC Bayern veteran Thomas Müller scored in the fourth minute in his 123rd international match. The 2-0 (87th) went to Leroy Sané. So there is hope for the 2024 European Championship at home, even if the Equipe tricolore scored again with a penalty goal from Antoine Griezmann (89th).

Despite the return to winning ways, the coaching activities of DFB sports director Völler remain a flash in the pan. “This is a unique thing for me. I feel it’s my duty to help out in a game like this,” the 63-year-old said before kick-off. Julian Nagelsmann is increasingly coming into play as a possible successor to Flick. According to information from the “Bild” newspaper, FC Bayern wants to give its ex-coach free release if the DFB brings him in as national coach. The 36-year-old was let go in Munich in March but still has a contract until 2026.

In any case, there are more than enough interjections from the sidelines when it comes to the question of team bosses in Germany. Mehmet Scholl suggests Lothar Matthäus as the new national coach. “Lothar is awkward and uncomfortable. He speaks his mind. He would be exactly the right person for the position.” Former national coach Berti Vogts has doubts about Nagelsmann’s alleged DFB dream solution. “His commitment would be risky,” said the 1996 European champion in a newspaper interview.

The national team needs “an experienced man as a national coach who can inspire the players and people,” said Vogts. His first preferred candidate would be Jürgen Klopp. However, the coach of LASK’s Europa League opponent FC Liverpool has a contract until 2026 and let his agent inform him that he was not available. Vogts named the current South Korean national coach and former national coach, Jürgen Klinsmann, as an alternative.

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