Latest news with #RudiVoeller
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Germany team director calls for better performance against France
Germany's sports director Rudi Voeller signs autographs during a training session at the Adi-Dassler-Stadion, ahead of the UEFA Nations League semifinal soccer match against Portugal. Federico Gambarini/dpa Men's national team sporting director Rudi Völler has called for an improved performance when Germany take on France in the Nations League match for third place on Sunday. "We definitely have to go one better," Völler told broadcasters ARD late Thursday. Advertisement Hosts Germany lost 2-1 against Portugal in their semi-final on Wednesday and now face Les Bleus who fell 5-4 against title holders Spain. "Of course we were all dissatisfied and disappointed. You always have to give 100%," Völler said. "We did much, much better in the last few games, even against top opponents. We have to do it differently on Sunday." This was Germany's first defeat since last summer's Euro 2024 on home soil. They were hoping to win a first title since the 2017 Confederations Cup. "Maybe we were a bit spoiled by the last few successful and good games we've played. At the very highest level, if you do a few per cent less, then it's not enough," Völler said. Advertisement Coach Julian Nagelsmann stressed that he expects his players to give everything against France to end the tournament on a positive note - especially ahead of the start of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in September. "We have no tolerance for conceding anything. It's less about third place. We have to take advantage of the game. If we play a top game and finish fourth, I can live with that more than if we play a shitty game and finish third," he said. The Nations League meeting will be Germany's 35th game against France. Overall, the Germans have a negative record, with 15 defeats, eight draws and 11 wins. But Germany have won the last two encounters. They took a 2-1 victory in 2023 under interim coach Völler before Nagelsmann led the team to a 2-0 triumph in a friendly ahead of Euro 2024.
Reuters
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Germany team director Voller extends contract until Euro 2028: German FA
BERLIN, April 9 (Reuters) - The German Football Association (DFB) said on Wednesday that national team director Rudi Voeller will remain in his role until Euro 2028 after signing a contract extension. A former World Cup winner as a player who also coached Germany from 2000-2004, Voeller took the position in 2023 and was also interim manager for one game following the departure of Hansi Flick in September that year. He will now continue working with coach Julian Nagelsmann, who in January also extended his deal until 2028. "I'm really looking forward to continuing on the path we've taken with Julian and his team until the next Euro – the path back to sporting success and into the hearts of the fans in Germany," Voeller said in a statement. "We've already made great progress. But we're not yet where we want to be." Germany reached the quarter-finals at Euro 2024 on home soil, their first solid tournament run in a decade. The U.S., Canada and Mexico will co-host the 2026 World Cup while England, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Scotland and Wales are co-hosting the 2028 European Championship.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'A tough nut to crack', Germany's Völler's warns ahead of Italy date
{microsoft_credit="" caption="German association football manager Rudi Voeller signs autographs at the team hotel. The national team will face Italy in the Nations League in Milan on Thursday. Federico Gambarini/dpa"} Germany sporting director Rudi Völler has warned that the team faces a huge task to beat Italy in this week's Nations League quarter-final tie. "Despite all the optimism, we naturally want to progress, we realise that, like Inter Milan, the Italian national team is difficult to play against," Völler said on Monday in Dortmund. "They don't allow a lot, are compact, have an outstanding coach in Luciano Spalletti who prepares the team well since taking over. A tough nut to crack." The former Germany striker and coach was speaking upon his arrival at the team quarters for the matches on Thursday in Milan and Sunday in Dortmund. The winner will host the Final Four mini tournament in June. Völler, 61, knows Italian football well, having played at Roma 1987-1992 and considering himself as "a half Roman." Germany's record against Italy in big event knock-out ties is not good, their only success coming on penalties on the Euro 2016 quarter-finals. Italy beat Germany in the 1982 World Cup final as well as semi-finals at the World Cup in 1970 and 2006, and at Euro 2012. Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann's 23-player squad is without the injured Florian Wirtz, Kai Havertz, Marc-André ter Stegen, Aleksandar Pavlovic and Benjamin Henrichs. But Völler will not see this as an excuse, saying: "of course it hurts but injuries happen in this phase of the leagues and Champions League, other federations have this as well. "We have to absorb it and we will absorb it. We will still deliver two good games," Völler said.
