Panaji: Germany demolished Brazil 7-1 on their way to winning the FIFA World Cup in 2014, then made it to the semi-finals of Euro 2016. But since then, their journey has been filled with disappointments.
Germany flopped with a group stage exit at the 2018 World Cup, made it only to the second round of Euro 2020, and were knocked out in the group stage again at the World Cup in Doha last year.
Under Hansi Flick, Germany have had a dreadful run, best demonstrated by a chastening 4-1 defeat against Japan last week. Nobody raised an eyebrow when the manager was sacked, but rather than a change in coach, the former world champions may now need drastic changes, including ways to groom a new generation of players.
“There are a lot of young players that are not getting enough game time and experience in the top league (Bundesliga, German football’s top-tier), mainly because of foreign players, established names, joining the clubs,” said Hans Pflugler, a World Cup winner with Germany in 1990. “There should be some sort of change in rules regarding youth player participation in the top league. If these young talents get more game time, we can really develop a new generation of players.”
Famously a one-club man with Bayern Munich, Pflugler was in Goa last week for the Youth Cup. The versatile defender won five league titles with Bayern and was part of Germany’s World Cup-winning squad in Italy in 1990.
Bayern have been the most dominant team in German football. They won their 11th consecutive Bundesliga title in dramatic fashion with a final day win at Cologne last season. Is this domination good for German football, or is it curtailing growth?
“The one who has the biggest will to win is the one who triumphs. You cannot deny that Bayern Munich have leading players in the team like (Thomas) Muller and (Manuel) Nuer who have kept winning the league title for 11 years in a row. When you are up against player with such mentalities, who don’t give up and keep winning (every season), you cannot do much.
“Last year, they (Borussia Dortmund) had a chance but they unfortunately messed it up for themselves. When that happens, there’s not much you can do. You need a greater willpower to win (the league),” said the Bayern legend.
Last season, Dortmund had gone into the last game in top spot but could manage only a 2-2 draw against Mainz, allowing Bayern to finish tied on 71 points, but eventual champions on goal difference.
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Germany flopped with a group stage exit at the 2018 World Cup, made it only to the second round of Euro 2020, and were knocked out in the group stage again at the World Cup in Doha last year.
Under Hansi Flick, Germany have had a dreadful run, best demonstrated by a chastening 4-1 defeat against Japan last week. Nobody raised an eyebrow when the manager was sacked, but rather than a change in coach, the former world champions may now need drastic changes, including ways to groom a new generation of players.
“There are a lot of young players that are not getting enough game time and experience in the top league (Bundesliga, German football’s top-tier), mainly because of foreign players, established names, joining the clubs,” said Hans Pflugler, a World Cup winner with Germany in 1990. “There should be some sort of change in rules regarding youth player participation in the top league. If these young talents get more game time, we can really develop a new generation of players.”
Famously a one-club man with Bayern Munich, Pflugler was in Goa last week for the Youth Cup. The versatile defender won five league titles with Bayern and was part of Germany’s World Cup-winning squad in Italy in 1990.
Bayern have been the most dominant team in German football. They won their 11th consecutive Bundesliga title in dramatic fashion with a final day win at Cologne last season. Is this domination good for German football, or is it curtailing growth?
“The one who has the biggest will to win is the one who triumphs. You cannot deny that Bayern Munich have leading players in the team like (Thomas) Muller and (Manuel) Nuer who have kept winning the league title for 11 years in a row. When you are up against player with such mentalities, who don’t give up and keep winning (every season), you cannot do much.
“Last year, they (Borussia Dortmund) had a chance but they unfortunately messed it up for themselves. When that happens, there’s not much you can do. You need a greater willpower to win (the league),” said the Bayern legend.
Last season, Dortmund had gone into the last game in top spot but could manage only a 2-2 draw against Mainz, allowing Bayern to finish tied on 71 points, but eventual champions on goal difference.
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