Just before the 2006 World Cup
Klinsmann tells of a special call from Angela Merkel
12/17/2022, 3:11 p.m
“They almost ruined the summer fairy tale,” says Jürgen Klinsmann, looking back on the clear bankruptcy against Italy in preparation for the 2006 World Cup. The national coach even feared for his job afterwards – and is now talking about how Chancellor Angela Merkel supported him .
According to former national coach Jürgen Klinsmann, then-Chancellor Angela Merkel played a major role in the “summer fairy tale” of the German national team at the 2006 World Cup. After a 4-1 defeat against Italy shortly before the start of the home World Cup, parts of the DFB wanted to get rid of him, Klinsmann told the “Spiegel”. The Chancellor then called him in California and said: “Jürgen, can I help in any way?
Despite the bad mood in the country, Merkel stood behind him and organized an appearance for him at a meeting with editors-in-chief. “She arranged for me to briefly explain what the plan is,” said Klinsmann, who then asked for support for his team at the meeting. “And then we all said: okay.”
Klinsmann said about the mood of the Germans after the gossip against Italy a few months before the World Cup in their own country: “They almost destroyed the summer fairy tale in March 2006.” Klinsmann, national coach from 2004 to 2006, finished third at the tournament with the German national team. After the selection of the German Football Association failed in the semifinals with a 0:2 after extra time at eventual world champions Italy, Klinsmann’s team had prevailed against Portugal 3:1 in the game for third place.
He is convinced that the environment has a significant influence on the success of a team. “We were a reflection of reunification,” Klinsmann said of the German world champion team in 1990. But if the environment is “talked to pieces” or negative energy is brought to the team from outside, then it won’t work. Klinsmann is credited with reviving the ailing national team and laying the foundation for the successes of the Joachim Löw era, whom he brought into his team as assistant coach.