Lothar Matthäus, captain of the German world champions in 1990, felt that it was now difficult to keep Hansi Flick as Germany coach, after the rout against Japan (4-1), nine months from the start. Euro-2024 at home.
“I know what has happened in recent months at the DFB (the German Football Federation, Editor’s note). Not many were behind Hansi Flick anymore. Rudi Völler (the sports director) yes. But can we still keep it now? I doubt it,” said Matthäus at the microphone of broadcaster RTL.
Eliminated in the first round of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the Germans recorded their fourth defeat in the last five friendly matches on Saturday evening, humiliated by Japan 4 to 1. A rout which further weakens Hansi Flick.
“We are all in shock. Losing 4-1 is a shame, and it was deserved. Such a defeat hurts,” explained sports director Rudi Völler on RTL.
“We will now return to the training center, we will calm down a little and tomorrow we will train a little. Tuesday we have another complicated match against France. We should all think about how this continues. We’ll see,” added Völler, when asked whether Flick is still the man for the job.
“We are no longer at the first level in Europe”, concluded Völler, 1990 world champion alongside Matthäus, then coach of the Mannschaft from 2000 to 2004. Finalist of the World Cup-2002, he resigned after the elimination of Germany in the first round of Euro-2004.
