Stupid football question

[karohemd]

You might have read that Rudi Völler, the German coach and his assistant are resigning.
Now, why do always the coaches go? Surely it was the players who were crap? If a forward is too stupid to hit the ball right, or causes a penalty or the goalie lets every ball past, it's their fault, not the coaches. I assume it's a case of politics, though.

Comments

[the-lady-lily.livejournal.com]

I always assumed it was some form of comment on his coaching ability - if he was a good coach, then he would have coached the players better and the goalie would not have let the goal in. Or something.

[angusabranson.livejournal.com]

It's also about tactics - and it's the coaching staff that are responsible for those.

It's knowing when to change formation, push your team into a more attacking posture or a defensive one, which players to choose and when to use your substitutes, etc.

Of course it doesn't help if your players aren't performing very well.

Personally I think another reason why Voller decided to quit was because he had two years left on his contract (expires after the 2006 World Cup which is being held in Germany) and I don't think he felt after seeing Germany's performances at Euro2004 that Germany are currently capable to winning the World Cup. At present they'd ne lucky to progress out of the Group Phase or Second Round. There is going to be immense pressure on Germany at the 2006 World Cup as they have a very rich and successful footballing history and they will be expected to deliver - or at the very least reach the Semi's or the Fianl itself. If they don't they'll get crucified and whomever is the Coach at that time will go down in German Footballing Lore in a very negative light. I think Voller has saved his reputation by deciding to leave now as opposed to risking humiliation in two years time.

I hope the German football team does improve but we're seeing a big levelling of the playing field amongst the international teams at present. Some teams (such as Italy, Spain and Germany) certainly aren't as good as those of yesteryear whilst we're seeing the emergence of other footballing sides (such as Japan, Turkey and the USA) who are becoming teams not to be laughed at as they once were. We live in interesting footballing times...