'Those times are over': Voeller honest about scope of Germany rebuild
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Nine months before Euro 2024 kicks off in Germany, the hosts have turned to Rudi Voeller to get the team back on track before Tuesday's friendly against France after coach Hansi Flick was sacked.
Flick became the first Germany coach in history to be relieved of his duties after his side slumped to a 4-1 loss to Japan in Wolfsburg on Saturday, the latest in a run of poor results which included a group-stage exit at the World Cupin Qatar last year.
The German Football Association (DFB) have turned to 1990 WorldCup winner Voeller to take over on an interim basis for the friendly against 2022 World Cup finalists France in Dortmund.
While Voeller's first point of call will be to inject some pride and stability into the struggling team, his broader task is to right the ship before next year's European Championship on home soil.
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FootballVoeller was asked in Dortmund on Monday about whether the well-known statement, commonly attributed to England's Gary Lineker, that 'football is a simple game with 11 v 11, and Germany wins at the end' still rang true.
«Those times are over» Voeller said, «we've been booted out at the group stage in the World Cup twice in a row.»
«In the meantime other countries and associations have caught up.»
'Urgent task'Voeller, who was part of the Flick set-up as the DFB's sporting director, was also appointed on an interim basis after Germany's disastrous group stage exit at Euro 2000.
He took the side all the way to the final at the 2002 World Cup, before losing 2-0 Brazil, but 63-year-old Voeller said on Sunday this time he will not be in the hot seat for long.
Speaking on Monday,
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