Germany needs total rebuild for World Cup success: Oliver Kahn

Germany Needs Complete Overhaul to Achieve World Cup Triumph: Oliver Kahn

Former Goalkeeper Criticizes National Team’s Lack of Progress

Bharatmorningnews.com – In an interview conducted in Mumbai, Oliver Kahn expressed concerns about Germany’s lack of development in international football, highlighting the need for a comprehensive restructuring. The veteran goalkeeper, known for his iconic role as captain during the 2002 World Cup, noted that the team has not performed well in the last three tournaments. Despite winning their fourth title in 2014, Germany failed to advance beyond the group stage in 2018 and 2022, and were eliminated in the Round of 32 this time, falling to Paraguay in a penalty shootout.

Kahn emphasized that the issue runs deeper than mere tactical adjustments. “We must be absolutely clear—Germany didn’t play any role in the last three World Cups,” he stated. The team’s campaign began with a dominant 7-1 victory over Curacao, but their progress stalled in a nail-biting 2-1 win against Ivory Coast. A 2-1 loss to Ecuador in the final group match further underscored their inconsistency.

Germany’s defensive struggles have persisted for over a decade, with the squad conceding goals in 10 straight World Cup matches. Their last clean sheet came in the 2014 final, where they beat Argentina 1-0. Now, with the campaign concluded, the nation is already moving to replace their head coach, Julian Nagelsmann, who has stepped down. Jurgen Klopp is being considered as a potential successor.

Kahn argued that coaching changes alone won’t resolve the problem. “People keep saying, ‘we need a new coach,’ but that’s not the solution,” he remarked. “We’ve already had Joachim Low, Hansi Flick, and Nagelsmann. Yet, the results haven’t improved.” He urged the footballing community to reconsider their approach: “What kind of players do we want to produce in the next decade? That’s the real question.”

“In the shootout, Kimmich was trying to hand over the responsibility to other players,” Kahn recalled. “The German mindset should be about stepping up when it matters most. We have talented players like Havertz, Wirtz, and Musiala, but do they show the same commitment in critical moments?”

The former captain pointed to the penalty shootout against Paraguay as a defining moment. While Kimmich encouraged teammates to take penalties, Jonathan Tah, who had never scored in a competitive match, missed his attempt. Kahn stressed that mentality is key: “We need players who take ownership of the game. That’s what separates the great teams from the rest.”

With over 11 years of experience as a sports journalist, the author has received recognition, including the Best Article Award at the PII-ICRC Annual Awards in 2024.