On this Sunday, August 1, 2021, hans-Frick, 56, was officially inaugurated as head coach of the German national team. Karl Heinz-Wild, chief reporter for Kicker, commented on this.
Germany's new coach Hans Frick Hansi Flick
In 2014, the then head coach of the national team Loew led the German team to win the World Cup in Brazil, and Frick, as an assistant coach, naturally contributed to it, and after the World Cup, he left the national team coaching team. Seven years later, on 1 August 2021, he returned again as the 11th national team manager in German history. His contract lasts for three years until after Euro 2024.
Since the World Cup triumph in Brazil on 13 July 2014, the German national team has been on the decline, with signs of decadence becoming more and more pronounced. At the 2016 European Championship in France, Germany was still able to reach the semi-finals, and at that time, some optimistic people thought that it was also possible to win the European Championship. By the 2018 World Cup, Germany, instead of defending its title, ended awkwardly after three group games. Before the Opening of Europe this summer, although the players and coaches had sworn that they would achieve excellent results, they still stopped in the round of sixteen and did not shame the World Cup three years ago. Seven years ago, Germany ranked first in the world, but now it has fallen to twelfth place and can only be classified as a second tier.
Today's German team is completely different and very problematic for Frick, and what kind of team Loew has left behind, he has not yet fully figured out. Loew's German team rose to prominence at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, peaked in 2014, lost in 2018 due to complacency and lack of discipline, and once again lost in fear in 2021. Germany's once precise and brisk passes have now become inefficient and blind, attacking often in vain. In 2014, in order to celebrate Germany's world cup victory, the team's leader Bierhoff put forward the marketing slogan of "Die Mannschaft", but it was not accepted by the public, and in the end it was all ridicule and accusations. He had to do more and put more effort into making up for the bad effects of it.
Frick knows how to start his new job, and as the new head coach of the national team, an approachable attitude will not only improve the atmosphere within the team, but also change the way fans think about the team. He maintains a relationship of mutual trust with the players and the entire Bundesliga, and Flick, as the former head coach of Bayern Munich, is highly regarded by his peers in other clubs, and he will become a very grounded national team manager who will involve the club to create an atmosphere of collective participation. In addition, the embarrassing performance of the German youth team in the Olympic arena should also be an incentive for him. Frick values the player's sense of responsibility more than the passion and pride of playing for his country.
The team currently has a lot of positions to rebuild. Back in June 2015, when he was a guest at Kicker as the sporting director of the German Football Association, he pointed out the problems: teamwork, the splitting of the ball when holding the ball, one-on-one defense. The problem, however, is that these vulnerabilities have not improved until now. As Flick said at the time, Germany lacks good full-backs and standard centre-forwards, and the position of centre-back is also a big weakness, and this year's European Championship has once again completely exposed all these weaknesses.
Frick is aware of these weaknesses and he will first enhance the psychological qualities of his players so that they can make the most of their abilities. He advocates attacking football, as he did when he was coaching Bayern, with quick balls and high-pressure pressing. Speed strikers Leroy Sané, Sergi Gnabry and Timo Werner must show better goalscoring ability than they did at the European Cup; Niklas Zule Süle in the back line also needs to prove himself. There are several young centre-forwards who will be in the spotlight, with Germany's Under-21 European Youth Champion Karim Adeyemi (19, playing for Salzburg), Lucas Nmetha Lukas Nmecha (22, for Wolfsburg) and Ragnar Ache Ragnar Ache (23, for Frankfurt) all within the scope of the investigation.
Before the Start of the European Championship, what would happen to Germany if Loew brought Julian Brandt (25 for Borussia Dortmund), Julian Draxler (27 for Paris Saint-Germain) and Tillo Correll Thilo Kehrer (24 for Paris Saint-Germain) with him? Will Marco Reus (32, playing for Borussia Dortmund) be back? Mats Hummels (32, playing for Borussia Dortmund) and Thomas Müller (31, bayern) were recalled ahead of the European Championship – but it was too late. Anyone else?
For the use of players, Frick will follow the principles of Bayern coaching: based on the performance and status of players, not on age. Jérôme Boateng (32) is a prime example, replacing the younger Jules (25) in Bayern. If there are several players of equal ability, then the younger one will be given priority in this case.
The transformation of the national team lineup must continue, but also recognize the achievements so far. Frick knows he will be under a lot of pressure, the most anticipated is of course the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Germany is currently in third place in Group J of the European Qualifiers, and it is clear that the goal of striving for the first place in the group is the biggest goal in front of him, and of course, the 2014 European Championship in Germany.
Frick is the founder of the wish, but he must also speed up because the World Cup is less than a year and a half away. The new manager of the national team has been quietly moving as early as the end of this year's European Championship, and it is believed that the squad will soon be announced. He will accomplish this difficult task with his charisma and sense of responsibility and the team's dedication to present a new, brave, long-term, engaging and exciting football team to all. Of course, there will be a perfect result in the end.