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“The fact is that we have bet on sympathy with the national team”, admitted Oliver Bierhoff, director of the national teams and the academy, before the next internationals against the Czech Republic, Ukraine and Spain.
“We are no longer Germany’s favorite child and campfire. But this team can be and the condition is not our claim,” said the 52-year-old. The 70-time national team player hopes that the perception of the DFB team, which has suffered enormously since the 2018 World Cup, will change again as soon as possible.
“We know we have disappointed our fans there. But we want to regain confidence little by little. After the upheaval, the young players approached this with heart and passion – with all the difficulties that exist,” said Bierhoff.
Bierhoff emotionally: “It hurts me …”
However, the upheaval has not yet made a positive impression on all football fans in Germany. The criticism had recently gotten more acute, but interest in the DFB team has waned.
“It hurts the way young players are dealt with. A dark cloud hovers over the national team. I am not interested in criticism, but in the tone and mood that is conveyed,” said Bierhoff emotionally. “We hope that the positive spirit be nurtured. The national team is still Germany’s most important football team. Support and a positive spirit would help the boys. “
Bierhoff made it clear that the current team wanted to “present a new image of a national team”. “The players want to be closer to the fans, immediate help during the crown crisis and so on. That’s when they got closer to us,” he revealed.
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Using Joshua Kimmich as an example, the DFB officer describes that the German national team means a lot to the new generation.
“We need a sense of accomplishment”
“You have to be honest – when it comes to money and fame: none of the players really need the national team. A Joshua Kimmich might as well say: I have two kids at home, I won’t do it to myself.” After his injury, Kimmich cannot be part of the upcoming international matches. “He would like to be here and burn for the national team again,” Bierhoff said, however.
“Guys make a lot of money, but they are also people. It hurts me that we no longer support him and honor him. Guys really deserve our trust,” Bierhoff said, completing his emotional appeal.
But he also admitted that “ultimately it’s all about results”: “Of course we also need a sense of accomplishment that we didn’t have before. We really want to win the important Nations League match against Ukraine. Then we can. go ahead too. Driving in Spain and taking risks there. The group is very close, we are very concentrated and concentrated. ”
Door closed for Hummels and Co.?
After they are dismantled, the DFB team will once again tackle the upcoming tasks without Mats Hummels and Thomas Müller, who are currently in excellent shape. Still a moot point.
“You would have to look back into history to see what players were going to bring back,” Bierhoff said of the matter. “In 1998 Berti Vogts brought back Lothar Matthäus and, although he is a great guy, he did something for the team. Prominent players like Jürgen Klinsmann, for example, have retired. You will have to look back sometimes.”
At the moment, national team manager Joachim Löw does not seem interested in changing his mind. “I didn’t notice there was a discussion on how to get one back,” Bierhoff revealed.
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