Hansi Flick is now taking over the office of national coach. He has to come to terms with the heavy legacy of the Löw era and renovate the national team, especially in defense and midfield. But Flick’s task is a promising one: the team’s playful potential is still enormous.
Unlike real life, namely life outside the stadiums, football always gives you second chances. A bitter defeat can be forgotten by an intoxicating victory; Fortunately, sport only has a short-term memory.
At the German Football Association (DFB) they started the new beginning very late. It starts today, the day after the knockout in the European Championship round of 16 against England. The era of national coach Joachim Löw had already come to an end three years ago, after the early failure at the World Cup in Russia.
Hansi Flick: New game idea, new mentality
Hansi Flick is now taking over the post of top soccer teacher in Germany, and in just under two months he will be able to write his own story. Then the DFB team will start qualifying for the 2022 World Cup with games against Liechtenstein, Armenia and Iceland. All opponents who should give Flick a successful debut.
This will be the challenge for Flick, formerly coach of FC Bayern: He has to ensure satisfactory results in day-to-day business and renew an entire team in the background. The renovation backlog from the Löw era is enormous: There is not only a need for a new game idea, but also for a change in mentality.
“The team”: Despondent and discouraged
The Germans are too despondent, too disheartened at the European Championships. Löw’s top priority was always, with the exception of the Portugal game, not to lose. He didn’t really want to win, for God’s sake he didn’t want defeat. France, the group’s first opponent, turned Löw into a giant. But anyone who has seen Switzerland versus France in the round of 16 knows that such teams can also be beaten; who knows that even a world championship team breaks down into its individual parts when it is put under stress by a supposedly smaller team.
It was similar against England. Löw’s team played solidly – but the belief that they could dominate and win this game could not be read from the actions of the Germans. And Loew on the dugout looked at a loss. Towards the end of the game, when it was already 0-2, Löw changed wildly. Brought Can, Sané and Musiala, but there was nothing left to save. The personnel raids only created more confusion.
Joachim Löw, not a man of intuitive coaching
Löw was always the man who indulged in great, overarching game ideas. Fast, intuitive coaching during a game was never his thing. Hansi Flick, on the other hand, has proven at Bayern that he can do just that. In his penultimate season in Munich, he led the team to six titles, including a Champions League victory. Bayern always delivered great performances in big games – a credit to Flick, who has a keen sense for the atmosphere in the team and is considered to be a player who understands.
Löw, on the other hand, only acted mechanically in the end. He always brought Leroy Sané, although he had disappointed every time he played in the European Championship. He brought Timo Werner, although he was going through a difficult phase at Chelsea and was replaced early in the Champions League final. He largely did without Jamal Musiala, although he has qualities in the penalty area like no other in the German team.
Good craftsmanship is now required
Craftsman is now in demand from Flick. Work on a small scale, on individual play elements. In defense, for example. Mats Hummels, 32, is not a man for the future, maybe it will just be enough for the 2022 World Cup. There is already a vacancy in the right full-back position – Joshua Kimmich worked very well as a temporary worker here, but became all the more painful in the defensive Missing midfield.
Here, too, Flick has to find new solutions. Löw’s favorite team Kroos / Gündogan failed at the European Championships; It was only when Leon Goretzka returned to the team that this strategically important position posed more danger.
Flick doesn’t take over a heap of rubble
So a lot of work for Hansi Flick. But one that could be promising and worthwhile. The national team is not on the ground after the failure at the EM, it is not a heap of rubble, as some experts now claim. The playing potential of this team is still enormous – as is that of France and Portugal, who were also eliminated in the round of 16. These teams will be back, they just need someone to readjust them. With a cool look and empathy at the same time.
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
