Surprise... Germany's World Cup scandal will not affect the "first official"
Hansi Flick will remain at the head of the coaching staff of the German national football team, despite the scandal of exiting the first round of the Qatar 2022 World Cup, according to what the local federation announced.
"We are both convinced that the 2024 European Cup in our country represents a great opportunity for football in Germany," said Federation President Bernd Neuendorf after a closed meeting with Flick. "(...) We have full confidence in Hansi Flick to take on this challenge with the team."
Germany bid farewell to the World Cup for the second time in a row from the group stage, after finishing third in Group E, after a shocking opening defeat against Japan (2-1), a draw with Spain (1-1) and a victory over Costa Rica (4-2).
For his part, Flick said, "Me and the coaching staff are optimistic about the European Cup on our land. As a team, we can achieve much more than what we showed in Qatar. We missed a great opportunity there."
And he continued, "We will learn our lessons from that. I have confidence in the common path agreed upon today (...) We all want the whole of Germany to stand behind the national team again at Euro 2024 on its soil."
Although Germany did what it had to do in the third and final round of the group stage by defeating Costa Rica, the other resounding surprise achieved by Japan, by defeating Spain and leading the group of death, knocked out "De Manshaft" from Qatar.
He confirmed Flick, whose contract lasts until 2024, after deviating from his desire to continue with the national team.
But the sudden resignation on Monday night of national team manager Oliver Bierhoff has cast doubts over his future.
"Regarding Oliver Bierhoff's successor, we have agreed that we will first discuss within the federation the structure for the future before making a decision," said Neuendorf.
Flick assumed duties in August 2021 after the European Cup, succeeding Joachim Loew, who led the national team to its fourth world title in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, but was shocked by the exit from the first round of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, bottoming the group behind Sweden, Mexico and South Korea.
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