Four-time World Cup winners Germany’s defeat to North Macedonia sparked calls on Thursday for coach Joachim Loew to stand down as a substitute of ready until after this summer time’s European Championship.
Goran Pandev had put North Macedonia forward in Wednesday’s 2022 World Cup qualifier simply earlier than half-time and though Ilkay Gundogan equalised from the penalty spot early within the second half, the minnows snatched victory when Eljif Elmas scored a late winner in Duisburg.
Loew, who led Germany to glory on the 2014 World Cup however has suffered a string of poor outcomes nearly ever since, had introduced final month that he’ll stand down after Euro 2020.
Bild, Germany’s most-read newspaper, mentioned that call needs to be reversed after the loss to the world’s Sixty fifth-ranked group.
“It’s over Jogi,” it mentioned in its headline. “The magic that Loew conjured up during the World Cup (in 2014) has unfortunately disappeared. His achievements for German football cannot be questioned but his time has gone,” the paper mentioned.
Loew has tried to forge a younger new group with out veteran stars equivalent to Thomas Mueller and Jerome Boateng that he discarded after early Germany’s early elimination from the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Kicker journal mentioned the rebuilding challenge was not working.
“This newly formed German national team is still looking for direction and trying to find its way… both in the players’ legs and heads,” it mentioned.
Kicker mentioned Loew’s rationalization that his gamers have been “tired” merely “does not stand up… against opponents of that level”.
And Sport1 web site mentioned the group had “dishonoured itself”, and was notably essential of Chelsea ahead Timo Werner who missed an open objective.
“Some players are not reaching their usual level,” the web site mentioned.
The efficiency will solely add gasoline to the argument that 31-year-old Mueller, who’s once more in good kind this season after main Bayern Munich to victory within the 2020 Champions League, be recalled for the Euro finals this summer time when Germany face a tricky first-round group of reigning champions Portugal, World Cup holders France and Hungary.
The loudest calls got here from Uli Hoeness, Bayern’s honorary president.
“Mueller should be in the team, he can still score goals and he can help any team in the world to get out of difficult situations,” Hoeness mentioned.
Loew in the meantime insisted he had not misplaced religion in his group for the Euro — and he urged Germans not to both.
“We must not lose belief,” Loew mentioned. “In the coming days and weeks we will check over everything once again.”
