Trouble at the DFB - Völler firmly rejects criticism of national team by DFB vice-president: "Everyone has their job"
DFB vice-president Ralph-Uwe Schaffert has caused quite a stir with his renewed harsh criticism of the German national team players and caused sporting director Rudi Völler great incomprehension. "It would be time to radically change the playing personnel," said the head of the North German Football Association, the Lower Saxony Football Association and Vice President of the German Football Association in an interview with the "Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung" and the "Neue Presse".
Specifically, the 67-year-old accuses many national players of a lack of attitude just six months before the start of the European Championship in their own country. "Because I have the feeling with quite a few of the players currently playing that they think they can perhaps get by with 85 percent of their possible effort on the pitch," said Schaffert. "It used to be an honor to play for Germany. Today, I have the feeling that it's a burden. Then I shouldn't do it if I have that attitude."
Rudi Völler: Everyone has their role
Völler did not want to let that stand. The DFB sporting director and former world champion reacted in the German newspaper "Bild" to the statements by the high-ranking DFB official, who has not been the first time he has been clearly critical of the national team. "Everyone in the DFB has their job. It's great that everyone is interested in the national team, and criticism is perfectly fine after the last few games. But the way to criticize our important players in such an exaggerated manner is not acceptable," said Völler.
Völler also said that he could not imagine that Schaffert really meant it that way and offered: "I would be happy to explain it to him again over a cup of coffee." Previously, DFB spokesman Steffen Simon had said in an initial reaction to Schaffert's comments: "The interview was not coordinated. We will deal with it internally."
The DFB vice president had already caused a stir earlier this year when he criticized the national players for their behaviour during the World Cup in Qatar at the New Year's reception of his home district association in Hildesheim. "If the German national team players cover their mouths like monkeys and order a hairdresser to their hotel, we shouldn't be surprised if they lose against Japan," said the most powerful soccer official in northern Germany at the time.
Schaffert attacks Kimmich and Gündogan
Before the 2-1 opening defeat at the World Cup against Japan, the national team players had demonstratively covered their mouths. They wanted to protest against the ban on the "One Love" captain's armband by the world association Fifa. Schaffert later apologized for the monkey comparison and was publicly admonished by his DFB executive committee colleague Ronny Zimmermann to be "fair".
And now the new criticism from the lawyer, who worked as a judge at the Celle Higher Regional Court for almost 25 years. In the interview, Schaffert mentioned the national team players Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich) and Ilkay Gündogan (FC Barcelona) by name. Kimmich had "so far failed to prove" that he was a leading player. "Even at the club."
In the case of national team captain Gündogan, it is the case that "strangely enough, he plays outstandingly well at club level and then plays in such a way in the national team that you could get the idea: Has he now sent his less talented twin brother?" said Schaffert. Basically, the national team needs to consider: "Perhaps we no longer only need the highly talented, but perhaps also those who are prepared to roll up their sleeves."
Criticism of coaching contracts
Regardless of his criticism of the national players, Schaffert also sees a problem with the DFB: as an association, it is no longer in a position to keep up with the sums paid in club soccer when looking for a new coach. "The next national coach will no longer get what Hansi Flick got - because the DFB can no longer afford it," said Schaffert. "You hardly ever have a Bundesliga coach who earns less than a million. It's all gone so through the roof that you can hardly cut back."
The current national coach Julian Nagelsmann, however, comes off well with the DFB vice-chairman. "Personally, Julian Nagelsmann - he introduced himself to us on the supervisory board and presidium - has already convinced me," said Schaffert. "I think that was the best of all the possible options. "tis
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- Despite the criticism from DFB vice-president Ralph-Uwe Schaffert, German national team sporting director Rudi Völler stands by his players, emphasizing everyone's role within the DFB.
- Schaffert's criticism has not been limited to the current situation, as he earlier raised concerns about the behavior of German players during the World Cup in Qatar.
- In his latest critique, Schaffert specifically mentioned Bayern Munich's Joshua Kimmich and FC Barcelona's Ilkay Gündogan, suggesting that both have not yet proven themselves as leading players at the international level.
- The comments have sparked controversy within the DFB, with DFB executive committee member Ronny Zimmermann publicly admonishing Schaffert to be "fair" in his assessments.
- As the European Championship in Germany approaches, the German soccer association (DFB) may need to consider a shift in focus, potentially favoring players who are willing to work hard over just those with innate talent.
Source: www.stern.de
