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According to a report by Raphael Honigstein of The Athletic, pressure is mounting on Germany coach Joachim Low following the nation’s 6-0 drubbing by Spain. The coach is set to report his failings to the DFB next month, which would influence a decision on his future. Bayern Munich, who supply the vast majority of Germany’s players, might end up intervening if the situation calls for it — though the nature of this intervention isn’t exactly clear.
Here is the full article by Rapha Honigstein, and you should go read it on The Athletic. The article is paywalled, so you’ll need a subscription. If you don’t have one, then this small summary is the best you’ll get.
Low will report his failings to German FA next month
— The Athletic UK (@TheAthleticUK) November 24, 2020
Some younger players find it hard to connect with him on an emotional level
Confusion over some of his tactics
Bayern board feel they might have to intervene if things get really bad
@honigstein
Nothing in that tweet is particularly groundbreaking, but it does offer insight into the inner workings of the German national team. The note on the young players is damning for the coach, because Joachim Low axed Thomas Muller, Jerome Boateng, and Mats Hummels ostensibly because he wanted to pivot towards the younger players. If those same young players are having trouble connecting with him, then it makes the entire endeavor utterly pointless.
Reports of confusion over his tactics is a first in the media, but unsurprising if you’ve followed Germany over the past couple of years. The team is slow, lethargic, and lacks any sort of structure or incisiveness. The lineup and formation changes every game — sometimes it’s a back three, other times it’s a back four. Aside from the few Bayern players and Toni Kroos, no one knows who’s a starter on the side. Confusion is a polite way of putting it — it’s complete pandemonium.
Of course, the big news is that the Bayern board could intervene if things get really bad. It’s hard to say what “really bad” means in this context, because from an outsider’s perspective, losing 6-0 to Spain counts as really bad in our book. Also, the nature of this intervention is hard to imagine, given that Bayern are still just a single football club (albeit the biggest one in Germany, and with the most NT players).
Some may call this a gross overreach by the Bayern bosses, but it’s clear that the DFB needs some help managing its affairs. Maybe the two entities could work out a deal regarding Hansi Flick? Anyway, problems at the NT level could hurt morale among Bayern’s German contingent, so the bosses’ concern is warranted. Now, we wait for Low’s summons to the DFB. Will they finally sack him?