Sep 12, 2023

At this point in time, the German sports scene is split into two. While the national basketball team is celebrating winning the FIBA Basketball gold, the national football team is in turmoil. Home to one of the best leagues in the world, the German Bundesliga, things haven't really reflected superiority at the national team in recent years. It is getting bleak by the day, as the decline is clear since Germany won the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Player disagreements, blame game and a restless fan base have been the order of the day. The stability once seen under Joachim Loew is long gone and Germany are no longer the world class side that dismantled Brazil 7-1 at their home ground in 2014. It is a surprise how much can change in less than a decade. Nine months before they get to host the topmost competition in Europe, Germany have hit a new low. A 4-1 defeat to Japan in an international friendly was manager Hansi Flick’s final game in charge. The legendary former Bayern Munich coach has to deal with the embarrassment of having been sacked after a run of four losses in five matches and a series of spineless performances.

Rudi Voeller

Another legendary German has taken charge – Rudi Voeller. It will not be his first stint with the national team but the fact he is tried and tested, gives some glimpse of hope. Voeller is back on an interim basis and the biggest task for him is to return the confidence on and off the pitch. Germany still have a lot of big games coming up; though they are friendly matches, they will go a long way in easing the pressure. Most of this will be available as updates on SportyTrader football lineup and you can follow, as they cover the football live scores for today’s matches in real time while also offering the option to view updates from many other competitions including the German Bundesliga, the Premier League and more. The next discussion right now is who will be entrusted with the German job, especially as the 2024 Euro Championship approaches. A top contender already linked with the job on a permanent basis is Liverpool tactician, Juergen Klopp. The Germans haven't been big in appointing non-Germans so Klopp fits the bill, for now.

Zinedine Zidane

Former French international Zinedine Zidane could be the outsider looked upon to bring his magic to the German national team. He has been out of a job since leaving Real Madrid and is among the top coaches that have been mentioned in regards to the role. While Zidane has the profile, he hasn’t managed at the international level, which is the case with Julian Nagelsmann, another German who has tasted the pressures of being at the top. Nagelsmann has previously handled Bayern Munich and Leipzig. His time at Bayern however ended in acrimony and he may find it hard to resist another bigger chance to instill his style. Louis van Gaal is also reported to be among the people being considered for the job. The Dutchman has tremendous experience at the international level. He has twice taken the Netherlands to the World Cup and if experience is the consideration, he’d beat all the other candidates. For now the ball is in the German federation’s court; the Euro tournament is fast approaching and a decision has to be made fast.