German football's risky plan to stick to coach Loew

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Germany's head coach Joachim Loew reacts after the UEFA Nations League group match between Spain and Germany in Estadio La Cartuja in Seville, Spain, Nov. 17, 2020. (Photo by Pablo Morano/Xinhua)

The German association's reported decision to stick to national team head coach Joachim Loew might be driven by respect for his achievements over the last 14 years.

The plan to attend a tournament such as the European Championships in 2021 closely followed by the 2022 World Cup nevertheless appears risky.

The devastating 6-0 defeat against Spain has revealed the 60-year-old's relationship to his leading figures in his squad has been substantially harmed.

The dispassionate performance against Spain gave evidence that the country's best players seem to have lost faith in their coach after the bumpy restart following a disappointing 2018 World Cup failure.

Despite the longest-serving national coaches' announcement, his newly formed team has achieved significant development steps over the past two years, but results and fans' reactions speak to the opposite.

Failing to manage a turn-around by delivering satisfying results at the Euro might put Loew's successor in the uncomfortable position of having to prepare a new team in only 18 months.

It seems a done deal that the 2014 world champion coach has to depart after the continental tournament next year.

News like that won't strengthen his position. The German coach is instead slipping into the role of a lame duck.

To act right now, as approval rates among fans have reached an all-time low, seems the last sensemaking timing to close the growing gap between German fans, the national team, and the struggling association.

A suitable solution helping to solve German football's difficulties seems available in the person of Ralf Rangnick. The 62-year-old has proved in Hoffenheim and Leipzig, he is the country's best developer regarding teams and talents.

Next to Loew, national team director Oliver Bierhoff is facing increasing pressure. From now on, his future is strongly connected to the one of the head coaches.

Media reports speak of a crisis meeting decision at the Munich airport has ended in favor of Loew. The German coach met with association president Fritz Keller, Bierhoff, and assistant coach Markus Sorg.

For two years now, the German coach unsuccessfully tried to establish a new generation following in the footsteps of Mats Hummels, Thomas Mueller, and Jerome Boateng, aside from a reliable team spirit.

Loew is now given the last chance for an honorable outflow.

Until the next internationals in March, allowing him to catch up, the coach might have to bear loads of critics over a long winter.

This appears not the best starting point to regain player's and fan's trust. Loew from now on isn't only facing strong opponent football teams. 

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