DBF-Legends Kahn and Vogts shoot against the National Team
After the elimination in the EM quarter-finals, former national coach Berti Vogts calls for critical reflection. We lack world-class quality and everything should be put to the test. Former goalkeeper Oliver Kahn is also not satisfied: He lacks killer instinct and efficiency.
Despite the hype around the Spanish EM youngster Lamine Yamal, Oliver Kahn warns against putting too many young players in the German football team for the next tournament. The long-time national team goalkeeper and former FC Bayern board member said in a video interview with "Bild" that the 20-year-old Bayern prodigy Aleksandar Pavlović is an "interesting player."
When asked about a possible successor for Toni Kroos as a central build-up player in the defensive midfield, Kahn said, "I would be cautious about that. I don't believe we have players who can be thrown into the team at such young ages and then, in two years, be at this level and in this important position and role to play. There are not many candidates for that." A duo of Robert Andrich and Joshua Kimmich in the double-six position is more likely for Kahn.
The 2026 World Cup will take place in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. National coach Julian Nagelsmann had already boldly announced after the frustrating elimination in the EM quarter-finals that they would become world champions in two years. Kahn evaluated the announcement as a "reaction of frustration" and expressed understanding.
England shows "the ruthless one"
"Julian is like that. But one should not take every word too literally." The 55-year-old meant that the motivation born out of disappointment would be difficult to maintain for two years and that there would still be many developments around the German team until the tournament in America.
At home EM, we saw despite strong performances that the DFB team, in contrast to teams like Spain and also England, still lacked efficiency. "That was already shown at the World Cup in Qatar that we put in an insane amount of effort, that we produced many chances, but that we achieved very few goals," said Kahn.
In the match against Spain, there were enough opportunities, but they were not utilized. "We lack this instinct, this ruthless attitude, really to seize the moment, to mercilessly strike, just like the English do and show: They don't need many chances. At the level, it's an incredible quality to have efficiency, to defend well, and then to hit at the right moment," said Kahn.
Vogts: We lack world-class quality
After the elimination of the German team, former national coach Berti Vogts calls for critical reflection of the DFB. "We can't be too naive about the situation," wrote he in a column for the "Rheinische Post." German football lacks world-class quality and can no longer keep up with other international top teams. The DFB must ask itself what is wrong.
Vogts criticizes that the education in academies and with trainers is losing touch with reality. "We urgently need real practitioners, players who have been actively involved internationally and have experienced how football is," wrote the 1974 World Cup winner.
Vogts, who as a coach won the European Championship in 1996, demands a more intensive integration of former national players into the association work: "Where is Lothar Matthäus? Where is Michael Ballack? Where is Bastian Schweinsteiger? Where are all the others?" They would be excellent trainers with their expertise, said the 77-year-old.
According to Vogts, foreign internships should be compulsory in coach education. I myself spent six weeks at Alex Ferguson's Manchester United - I learned an incredible amount there, he reminded. It's not harmful to learn from the best. "And that's no longer us, but them," he added, referring to international football.
Berti Vogts suggests that the DFB should consider bringing in former national players like Lothar Matthäus, Michael Ballack, and Bastian Schweinsteiger as trainers to help address the lack of world-class quality in German football. Oliver Kahn agrees with Vogts, noting that Germany needs to improve its efficiency in converting chances during tournaments, citing England as an example of a team that excels in this area.
