Emmanuel Thomas with DPA reports l Friday, March 31, 2023
BERLIN – Former Germany and Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann has called for the exit of national team coach Hansi Flick and some veteran players in the wake of an at times “frightening” showing in a 3-2 defeat against Belgium.
Hamann, now a pundit at Sky TV, told dpa that while he has heard that Flick’s position will not be questioned after Tuesday’s loss there is “no alternative” to a change at the helm.
“We can’t continue in this way,” Hamann insisted. I already said after the World Cup I see no reason whatsoever why you should continue with this coach.
“If we believe that we have even the remotest chance of winning the European championship in this constellation then we are lying to ourselves and have lost our senses. We will not be European champions with this coach.”
Germany went out in the group stage of last year’s World Cup but it was decided to continue with Flick who has been on the job since 2021.
A 2-0 victory against Peru on Saturday and the defeat against Belgium, in which Germany trailed 2-0 inside 10 minutes of the game, were the first since the Qatar and the start of preparations for Euro 2024 which Germany hosts.
Hamann dismissed statements from Flick and players that the team had improved after falling behind early against Belgium.
“Starting to play when the game is lost is something everyone can do. When the opponent sits back and [Romelu] Lukaku or [Kevin] De Bruyne are substituted,” Hamann said.
“By then they should have been 4-0 or 5-0 down. Then we would have another debate now,” he said.
“I wonder what the standard is. We muddle along and say we’ll be fine. But nothing will happen in this constellation.”
Hamann also said that Flick should drop veterans like of captain Manuel Neuer, Thomas Müller and Ilkay Gündogan in order to reshape the team.
“No question that they have great merits. But time doesn’t stop at anyone. You have to make a cut now,” he said
