Michael Ballack warns Germany not to repeat the mistakes they made after the 2018 World Cup

‘Every position should be questioned – including the coach’: Michael Ballack warns Germany not to repeat the mistakes they made in 2018 after their second straight World Cup group stage exit… as he calls for the DFB to have more ‘self-criticism’

Michael Ballack has urged the German Football Association not to make the same mistakes they made in 2018 following another dismal World Cup showing.

Germany have crashed out of the World Cup in the group stage for the second tournament in a row and Ballack hopes that the DFB have learned from four years ago.

Speaking to Magenta TV, following Germany’s exit, Ballack said: ‘This is what happens when there’s no self-criticism. We shouldn’t make the same mistake again as in 2018.’

Michael Ballack has warned Germany not to make the same mistakes they made in 2018

Following the World Cup in Russia, Germany stuck with their former manager Joachim Low – something Ballack believes was a mistake.

Ballack continued: ‘The president just said after the elimination [in 2018]: The DFB and the coaching staff will now analyze it – and then Jogi stayed in the end’

Hansi Flick managed Germany to another group stage exit - their second in two World Cups

Hansi Flick managed Germany to another group stage exit – their second in two World Cups

GERMANY NEXT MANAGER ODDS 

Jurgen Klopp – 4/1

Thomas Tuchel – 6/1

Ralf Rangnick – 8/1

Julian Nagelsmann – 10/1

Stefan Kuntz – 12/1

Arsene Wenger – 14/1

Odds provided by FairBettingSites.co.uk

Low was eventually sacked in 2021, following a 2-0 round of 16 defeat to England at the delayed Euro 2020 tournament. 

This left current boss Hansi Flick with just a year to prepare for the World Cup –  which turned out to be another disaster for German football. 

Ballack went on to criticise the style of football Germany play under Flick, as well as the manager himself – citing other teams’ success with smaller squads. 

The former Chelsea midfielder said: ‘Every position at the DFB should be questioned, including the coach.

‘You don’t get very far with this kind of football. We see it in the teams that are less talented than us but give us problems.’

Germany were among the favourites to win the tournament before the World Cup kicked off but an opening game upset at the hands of Japan derailed their tournament. 

Flick’s side improved their results each matchday but in the end four points was not enough to secure qualification to the knockout stages.  

Germany are leaving the World Cup at the earliest possible moment after a poor group stage

Germany are leaving the World Cup at the earliest possible moment after a poor group stage

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