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Oliver Bierhoff still can’t get off the ball.
As in his early years, he still trains in warm-up exercises amidst the German national players and thus remains close to the action. (League of Nations: Switzerland – Germany on Sunday from 8:45 p.m. on LIVETICKER)
In conversation with SPORT1 DFB academy and national team director comments on criticism of Joachim Löw’s game plan and gives German football hope for better times.
SPORT1: Mr. Bierhoff, Niklas Süle confidently said that Germany could play the European Championship next year. Do you share their opinion?
Oliver Bierhoff: In any case, we have incredibly strong, young and talented players, paired with players who have a lot of experience: Toni Kroos, Manuel Neuer, Ilkay Gündogan. We have a good combination, we have seen many players develop very well in recent months. You can also see how the application is from abroad for our players. You will continue to grow there; in the English league, but also in other areas. That is why I am confident. We will not enter the tournament as favorites. But we will have our chance.
SPORT1: Following the 1-1 draw against Spain, national coach Joachim Löw criticized the fact that three international matches were scheduled for October and November in a few days. what do you think about it?
Bierhoff: We know that stress management will be extremely important. We approach it with the academy and actively reach out to all the clubs of the national team. We enter into dialogue with all the experts we have. Because we have to coordinate there. Nor can it be that it is always the national team that is behind. We take certain things into account. But it will be extremely important for everyone involved to control the players, to give them breaks here and there. For us, the forecast is particularly important that we will still have relatively new players at the European Championship next year who are not too broke.
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Bierhoff on Havertz-Thater: “We are so sorry”
SPORT1: What do you think of Kai Havertz’s early departure?
Bierhoff: We are very sorry. On the one hand, we are very happy for him that he has now taken this step to become a top club. The Premier League will challenge you to further develop. We are also happy for Bayer Leverkusen that they are receiving high income from the transfer during this difficult time. But we miss him for his technical quality, for his ability to score goals. Of course we would have loved to have him against Switzerland. But that was now the main focus.
SPORT1: Let’s look ahead. How important will the strong axes of the club players be in the future?
Bierhoff: Of course, a good mix is also possible. But first of all, a good team spirit and the will to play together are important. Of course, we have the advantage that we have many players who have already played for the national youth teams and who know each other. But an axis of a club helps enormously, because the players then know each other more intensely and better, they do not need time to get used to and of course they can coordinate better in the game.
SPORT1: Does Joshua Kimmich have what it takes to become captain of the national team one day?
Bierhoff: I think Joshua has shown in various places that he is ready to take responsibility. He does it even without a captain’s armband. Without a doubt, it is a personality that can take on this role at some point. He also plays in a position where you can intervene a lot. In this sense, we are happy to have him, as well as other young players who have a certain prestige and image of themselves from a very young age.
