The facial expression of the German national coach Hansi Flick this Saturday evening might have told the story of hard times ahead for the 58-year-old.
Having poor results recently, this time losing a friendly against Japan 4-1, is increasing the crisis of the struggling 2014 world champion.
The former Bayern coach and 2020 treble winner is in danger of losing his job. The friendly against France upcoming Tuesday might be the last chance for the former midfielder to turn things for the better.
As a curious fact, Japan's national side had been the starting point of a disastrous 2022 FIFA World Cup experience when Germany ended up with a painful group exit. In Qatar, Japan won 2-1.
Considering the downward trend continuing over months, rumors about Flick's dismissal ten months in advance of the 2024 UEFA Euro hosted by Germany might be fuelled and names of possible successors turn up more often as they have in the past days.
Former Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann is mentioned aside from former Frankfurt manager Oliver Glasner; not to speak of Matthias Sammer taking over as a rescue worker to secure a better performance when approaching next year's major.
At present a new low point has been reached.
German record international Lothar Matthaeus spoke of the German association having a plan B to be prepared when the game against France is getting lost.
The encounter with Japan was meant to be a reparation. Flick failed in his attempt to create a new team hierarchy.
The plan, to appoint midfielder Joshua Kimmich as a full-back and move him to midfield when in ball possession, failed as Japan took advantage of the gaps caused by the tactics when driving its counterattacks.
The new German captain Ilkay Guendogan made a painful confession after the final whistle. "We are not good enough. That's reality. We are not at the same level with teams such as Japan," the Barca midfielder said, adding that "We might think we are better, but we aren't."
In Flick's 25 games in charge, the Germans never played in the same line-up over two games. Critics accuse the German head coach of having not developed a convincing strategy.
This Saturday the home team got booed off the pitch by 26,000 spectators while approval rates among fans have decreased constantly.
"We have to prepare for France now," Flick said. "Japan delivered the basics of football. German football must think about changing its talent system and teaching basics."
Meanwhile, the association finds itself in a controversial debate about how to install a new education system for young talents. Contrary opinions collide at an open stage in different media which doesn't seem to help improve the associations' damaged reputation.
"We don't see a team having faith and being united," Matthaeus said.
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