Rudi Voller: 'Losing 1-4 to Japan is a disgrace for Germany'

"We played against a really strong Japanese team, but in the end, losing 1-4 was still a disgrace," Voller said after the defeat at home at Volkswagen Arena.

When asked about Flick's future, the DFB director replied: "We should all reflect on ourselves and then see what happens next. Germany is no longer among the strongest teams in Europe, but still "There are many top-class players. I just talked to Flick and he was deeply affected. Tomorrow, we will talk about why this loss happened."

Meanwhile, legend Lothar Matthaus - who holds the record for playing for Germany with 150 matches - harshly criticized and wanted the DFB to immediately fire Flick. "I doubt that DFB can keep Flick after this loss," Matthaus expressed. "Japan even has three or four chances to face Ter Stegen. I have the feeling that this is not a team, at least on the field. This is not a team to play well at Euro 2024."

At Wolfsburg on September 9, Junya Ito, Ayase Ueda, Takuma Asano and Ao Tanaka scored for Japan, while Germany only had one goal thanks to Leroy Sane. This was Germany's third consecutive defeat and extended Germany's winless streak to five matches. Previously, the army under Hansi Flick lost 2-3 to Belgium, drew 3-3 with Ukraine, lost 0-1 to Poland and 0-2 to Colombia.

In Die Welt newspaper, journalist Lars Gartenschlager was dissatisfied with the performance of the German team. "278 days before Euro 2024 kicks off at home, the situation is becoming increasingly serious," he wrote. "Germany, the 2014 World Cup champion, is no longer the top team in the world. Opponents come here and leave with victories. Before that it was Colombia in Gelsenkirchen, now it is Japan in Wolfsburg. Flick promises to improve good, but what the 24,980 spectators in Wolfsburg and those at home saw on the screen was truly terrible, and difficult to put into words."

In the context of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer's injury, Flick gave the captain's armband to Ilkay Gundogan and vice-captain to Joshua Kimmich. In a recent interview with DW, former captain Philipp Lahm questioned the lack of leadership in the team. "I don't know who is currently responsible. Who is the face of the team? Who is the core? Who is the key person leading the team?", Lahm expressed.

A recent survey on German football website Kicker found that 83% of voters wanted the DFB to fire Flick. Lahm did not directly say that he wanted the German team to change its coach, but used the example of Morocco making a miracle at the 2022 World Cup even though coach Walid Regragui only took office three months before the tournament, in the context that Euro 2024 will be held in just over half a year. start war.

On September 12, Germany continued to play a friendly match with 2018 World Cup champion France at Signal Iduna Park. This is considered the match that will determine Coach Flick's position.

Flick was Joachim Low's assistant on the German coaching staff that won the 2014 World Cup. He made a splash in two seasons leading Bayern, including winning six titles in the 2019-2020 season, including the Bundesliga and the National Cup. German National Championship, Champions League, German Super Cup, European Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup. After Low left in the summer of 2021, Flick was appointed to replace him, but was under a lot of pressure when Germany was eliminated from the 2022 World Cup group stage.