Völler Critiques Argentina's World Cup Style: 'Not Football'

Rudi Völler, the sporting director of the German Football Association (DFB), expressed strong criticism of Argentina's performance at the World Cup during the International Coaches Congress in Mainz. He stated, "I said that we as Germany need to defend better. Many took the Argentinians as an example, which I found to be a poor one. Suddenly, the Argentinians were seen as the benchmark. I found the discussion a bit hypocritical. I don’t want a team that plays like Argentina. That has nothing to do with football." His comments were met with significant applause from coaches and football officials across Germany.

While acknowledging Argentina's achievement of reaching the World Cup final again, Völler struggled to understand their aggressive and at times unsportsmanlike style of play. "Yes, they are world champions and were vice-world champions this time. But I didn’t quite grasp the praise given to them," he remarked.

Instead, Völler highlighted the defensive performances of other nations during the tournament, pointing to Spain and England as worthy examples for Germany. He stated, "Spain deserves the praise, and the English defended very well as well."

Looking Ahead to Klopp's Era

With the new head coach Jürgen Klopp set to take the reins, Völler is optimistic about the future. Reflecting on his own role, he mentioned, "I considered whether it made sense to continue after this World Cup and I was close to stepping down." His decision to remain was influenced by Klopp, who was officially introduced last Friday and will start on August 15 after his vacation. Völler praised Klopp's extensive experience, saying, "Jürgen has an enormous career. When he says you need to stay on, that makes me happy. I will support him in my own way." Völler’s contract runs until after the 2028 European Championship, at which point he plans to step down.

Völler emphasized the need for the German team to regain the public's enthusiasm and improve in the next European Championship, stating, "We need to excite the masses again and do better at the next EM. It’s all about being more resilient and defending better: that’s what we have been missing lately."

Klopp as a Beacon of Hope

Völler believes Klopp is the right person to lead the DFB into a new chapter. He commented, "We need to give the people in Germany a sense of optimism over the next two years. He can do that with his approach. He has already ignited the country."

The former team coach, who led Germany to a World Cup runner-up finish in 2002, is looking forward to working with Klopp. "It’s fantastic that he has taken the position," Völler said, praising Klopp's ability to inspire others alongside his football knowledge.

Völler noted that this motivational skill was something that Klopp's predecessor, Julian Nagelsmann, lacked. "He didn’t have a strong backing anymore. Every decision he made was viewed negatively," Völler explained, referring to the DFB's decision to part ways with Nagelsmann after their early exit in the World Cup Round of 16.

A Different Dynamic with Klopp

Völler predicted a different atmosphere with Klopp at the helm: "He has the quality, the strength, and the authority to try new things. People will also be more forgiving if something doesn’t work out. He has earned that position throughout his coaching career."

While Völler plans to refrain from providing tactical advice, he mentioned he could offer insights into the administrative aspects of the role, noting, "Being the national coach is something entirely different from coaching a big club. Jürgen has already realized the weight of this position."

Klopp had to cancel his planned keynote address at the three-day coaching congress at the last minute. In a video message, he explained, "I didn’t want to create headlines right at the start without having ever played with the team. I thought it made sense not to discuss what I wanted to talk about." He added, "The topic would have been: Becoming a coach isn’t hard, being a coach is."

Kimmich's Continued Importance

As for the upcoming matches, Völler expects some changes but not a complete overhaul of the squad. Klopp will select players who can best implement his playing philosophy. "He has ideas that we have talked about. It will be exciting," Völler noted.

Völler is confident that captain Joshua Kimmich will continue to play a pivotal role in the national team. "I expect him to remain a key figure. He has proven in many international matches that he is a great leader and captain. I don’t want to preempt the head coach, but I don’t expect major changes there," he said.

Striker Nick Woltemade shares Völler’s sentiment, predicting continuity in the squad: "I believe many players will be the same." This was mentioned in a video call with Thomas Müller that was shared by Google.

Upcoming Matches in the Nations League

Germany is set to compete in the Nations League at the end of September and the beginning of October against the Netherlands, Serbia, and Greece on two occasions. Völler hopes for more attractive performances from the team, stating, "We have now had three consecutive poor World Cups. But we are not that bad. We are still a nation that can beat anyone on a good day," he affirmed.

dpa