There is a DFB team on the pitch that is fighting to take part in the Olympic Games. But almost only the broken relationship with Martina Voss-Tecklenburg is talked about. The fact that the association is now announcing the separation is long overdue. And a great redemption.
Finally football again. It sounds strange, after all it’s about the DFB women’s team. And it is currently fighting in the Nations League, which is being held for the first time, to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. But in the past few weeks since the World Cup disaster, the focus has been on the tense relationship between everyone involved and national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg. Now it’s finally over – and that’s the best thing for the sport.
There are losers on both sides, neither the now former national coach nor the German Football Association emerge from the “mud battle” with their heads held high. There are too many disagreements in the dispute. Too much communication was only done through lawyers. The relationship between the two parties, who had only extended their cooperation in the spring with a lot of praise and the euphoria of the European Championship behind them, was too icy.
On the one hand, there is the 55-year-old who took sick leave immediately after returning from the debacle of the World Cup in Australia. Her husband spoke of symptoms of exhaustion. This must be taken seriously, no question. But that she can give lectures – well paid – at external conferences of dentists and at the Federal Association of German Prefabricated Buildings while the overdue World Cup analysis is pending and while Horst Hrubesch is taking over the task of preparing the team for the Nations League instead of “MVT” on an interim basis. Preparing games is at least unfortunate.
On the other hand, there is the DFB, which has not insignificantly contributed to the trouble that is affecting Voss-Tecklenburg. Finally, the association’s leadership around President Bernd Neuendorf and managing director Andreas Rettig said that they hoped that the 125-time national player would get well soon, when she was actually on a “recovery vacation” for a long time. Approved by the DFB, with the knowledge of the bosses, of course. The narrative of the exhausted trainer was in great contradiction to her approved work as a speaker. The fact that Neuendorf, who did not travel to the World Cup, gave Voss-Tecklenburg a job guarantee immediately after the earliest exit in DFB history is also inelegant.
For a long time it was terror without end
After all, there were already rumors about the internal discord in the world. The coaching team is said to have been at odds with each other, and there was also anger from and with players, some of whom were said to have felt ignored and disadvantaged compared to others on the team. The fact that not one player spoke out in favor of continuing the collaboration when the coaching question was already being discussed publicly spoke volumes. The fact that they instead vehemently demanded “clarity,” even though it was not clear for a long time when Voss-Tecklenburg could be fit again, is another matter.
The separation now comes 13 weeks after the World Cup exit. It is long overdue, it seemed like endless terror for a long time. One that overshadowed the sporting relevance of the DFB women’s current games. The players can play in what is probably the all-important game against Denmark (December 1st, 8:30 p.m./ZDF and in the ntv.de live ticker) focus fully on football and the absolutely necessary victory with at least three goals. It’s about the sport.
At least in the near future. It is still unclear who the team could travel to Paris with in the coaching position if they actually succeed in qualifying. Hrubesch has already thrown his hat into the ring. So far, the 72-year-old is only the interim coach. And actually has a job at Hamburger SV. So the next chapter with drama potential is already emerging.