Germany coach Loew’s 15-year tenure ends in regret

Joachim Loew’s 15-year tenure as coach of Germany’s national soccer team is over, and many think it should have ended a long time ago.

The Germans at least advanced from the group stage this time, unlike three years at the World Cup when they were defending champions, but then lost to England 2-0 at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday in the round of 16 of the European Championship. His successor Hansi Flick will already be under pressure to turn things around before next year’s World Cup.

“I take responsibility for this exit, no ifs or buts,” Loew said on Wednesday in his last news conference as Germany coach. “It’s going to take a bit of time to get over this disappointment.”

Loew had the high of winning the 2014 World Cup, including the remarkable 7-1 thrashing of hosts Brazil in the semi-finals, but his tenure was tarnished by the low of finishing bottom of the group four years later in Russia, which still haunts the Germans.

An attempted reboot after the tournament in Russia failed to yield the desired results. First there was the embarrassing 6-0 loss to Spain last November, and then a 2-1 loss to North Macedonia in World Cup qualifying in March.

“In these 15 years, there were a lot of things that were very positive,” Loew insisted at Wembley.

“We have developed steadily, the World Cup title in 2014, the Confederation Cup victory in 2017 with a young team.

“There have been moments that are unforgettable,” added the 61-year-old.

Yet Loew admitted his team had experienced “some problems since 2018” and that there had been “a lot of difficult periods” like the unforgettable 6-0 thrashing by Spain last November, which sparked his decision to step down.

His replacement, one-time assistant Hansi Flick, inherits a team which still needs to get its bid for qualification for the 2022 World Cup back on track after a shock home defeat to minnows North Macedonia in March.

When Thomas Mueller wasted a golden opportunity to equalise at Wembley with the goal at his mercy, it was typical of Germany’s recent struggles in the final third.

A 4-2 thrashing of Portugal in the group stages only papered over the cracks running through a team which can dominate possession, yet struggle to use it.

Germany certainly has the talent.

As Loew says, fledgling leaders like Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka “will take a big step forward in the next two or three years and be at the peak in 2024” when Germany hosts the next European Championship.

Yet Flick is expected to take a team to the next World Cup that will at the very least be competitive. A convincing win in the qualifier against minnows Liechtenstein in his first game on September 2 would be a good start.

Agencies