A decision is expected soon on the national coaching question for female footballers. Alexandra Popp’s team makes it clear: The state of limbo cannot last until the next games.
How does the DFB solve the complicated coaching question for women? Who will fill the new position of sports director? And how long will captain Alexandra Popp continue? The German soccer players preserved their Olympic chances with the 4-0 win against Iceland in the Nations League, but they are more than ever a major construction site. Former world champion Nia Künzer urged Popp to make a clear statement and also held the association accountable.
“It is crucial that the focus now is not just on the Olympic Games, but that strategic decisions are made on the way to the 2025 European Championship in Switzerland. This must now be addressed promptly,” said the 43-year-old to the German Press Agency .
In any case, the resurgent players made it clear on Tuesday evening in Bochum that the state of limbo surrounding the ill national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg must come to an end. “It is now time for a decision to be made and for there to be clarity,” said Lena Lattwein from VfL Wolfsburg. “It’s not a good situation for us that we don’t have any certainty.” Goalkeeper Merle Frohms and Popp made similar comments and announced: “We will enter into an exchange with the DFB.”
Lots of room for speculation
Germany’s Footballer of the Year herself leaves a lot of room for speculation when it comes to her personal future in the national team. After all, when asked whether she would still be there in the two games on October 27th in Sinsheim against Wales and on October 31st in Iceland, the 32-year-old from Wolfsburg said: “I think.” On ZDF she answered the question of whether it was her last international match: “We have now won a game, but I think that we don’t yet have a certain level of clarity and security in the team to say goodbye.”
Popp expressed thoughts of resigning last week – as he did after the 2022 European Championships in England. Künzer, who helped Germany win the World Cup in the USA in 2003 with her golden goal in the final and was a football expert on ARD for many years, asked the goalscorer on Wednesday to be clear about her future in the DFB team express. “I would like Alex to provide a little more clarity and say, for example: I will continue until the Euros. With a clear statement, she could also help ensure that there is more calm,” said the ex-Frankfurter.
On the question of coaches and sports directors, a decision is expected soon from the German Football Association, whose new managing director was sitting in the stands in Bochum. Voss-Tecklenburg’s return to the post is considered unlikely. Her deputy Britta Carlson reported that she kept Voss-Tecklenburg informed via text messages but had no telephone contact.
Complex situation
“I don’t know how she’s doing at the moment. We have the information, she’s not feeling well. It might take a while until she comes back – if she comes back,” said Lattwein. Voss-Tecklenburg has not yet commented on her health. The association informed about her illness on September 8th, a good four weeks after the World Cup preliminary round exit in Australia. The 55-year-old’s contract is valid until the 2025 European Championship – this and the protection against dismissal in the event of illness make the matter so complex for the DFB.
According to a “Bild” report, the former German U21 national coach Stefan Kuntz, most recently the Turkish national coach, is considered a possible candidate for the coaching position with the European runners-up. “Basically it’s about quality and experience. You have to think carefully about whether you take someone who hasn’t worked in women’s football at all,” said Künzer. The DFB had already done this once during the crisis: Horst Hrubsch became interim head coach in 2018 when the association separated from Steffi Jones.
The DFB did not comment further on the report about Kuntz. “I have no information about this,” said a spokeswoman. In addition to the coaching question, the DFB is also concerned about who will fill the new position of sports director for women. Ralf Kellermann, who has been a successful sports director for the Wolfsburg women for many years, is being discussed here. “I think that the task will appeal to him if he is asked. That would be a next step for him,” said Künzer.
Source: Stern
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