Soccer finally has a chance again at the DFB
Soccer again at last. It sounds strange, as we are talking about the DFB women's team. And they are currently fighting to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris in the inaugural Nations League. However, in recent weeks since the World Cup disaster, the focus has been on the strained relationship between everyone involved and national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg. Now that has finally come to an end - and that is the best thing for the sport.
There are losers on both sides, neither the now former national coach nor the German Football Association will emerge from the "mud fight" with their heads held high. There are too many disagreements in the dispute. Too much was only communicated via lawyers. The relationship between the two parties, who had only extended their cooperation in the spring with much praise and the euphoria of the European Championship behind them, was too icy.
On the one hand, there is the 55-year-old, who went on sick leave immediately after returning from the debacle World Cup in Australia. Her husband spoke of symptoms of exhaustion.Thesemust be taken seriously, no question about it. But the fact that she can give - probably paid - lectures at external conferences of dentists and at the Federal Association of German Prefabricated Construction, while the overdue World Cup analysis is pending and while Horst Hrubesch takes over the task of preparing the team for the Nations League games in place of "MVT" on an interim basis, is unfortunate to say the least.
On the other hand, there is the DFB, which has contributed significantly to Voss-Tecklenburg's anger. After all, the association's leadership around president Bernd Neuendorf and managing director Andreas Rettig were still saying that they hoped the 125-time international would soon get well, when she had actually been on "recovery leave" for a long time. Approved by the DFB, with the knowledge of the bosses of course. The narrative of the exhausted coach was in stark contrast to her authorized activity as a speaker. The fact that Neuendorf, who had not traveled to the World Cup, gave Voss-Tecklenburg a job guarantee immediately after the earliest exit in DFB history is also inelegant.
For a long time it was terror without end
After all, there were already rumors of an internal rift in the world. The coaching team was said to be at odds with each other, and there was also anger from and with players, some of whom were said to have felt ignored and disadvantaged compared to others in the team. The fact that not one player spoke out in favor of continuing the collaboration when the coaching issue was already being discussed publicly spoke volumes. That they instead vehemently demanded "clarity", although it was not clear for a long time when Voss-Tecklenburg might be fit again, was another.
The separation now comes 13 weeks after the World Cup exit. It is long overdue, it has long seemed like a horror without end. One that overshadowed the sporting relevance of the DFB women's current games. The players can focus fully on soccer and the absolutely necessary victory with at least three goals in what is probably the all-important match against Denmark (December 1, 8.30 pm/ZDF and ntv.de live ticker) . It's all about the sport.
At least in the near future. It is still unclear who the team could take to Paris in the coaching position if they do manage to qualify. Hrubesch has already thrown his hat into the ring. So far, the 72-year-old is only the interim coach. And actually has a job at Hamburger SV. So the next chapter with potential for drama is already looming.
Source: www.ntv.de
