Latest news with #Völler
Yahoo
2 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.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Völler would like Wirtz to stay at Leverkusen for another year
Rudi Voeller, Sports Director of the German national soccer team, speaks at a press conference on the allocation of rights, for the 2026 Men's World Cup, at Telekom's representative office in Berlin. Telekom has acquired an extensive TV rights package from FIFA, the world soccer association. Christoph Soeder/dpa German Football Federation (DFB) sporting director Rudi Völler hopes Florian Wirtz stays at Bayer Leverkusen for another year and doesn't expect a quick decision on his future. "My favourite solution is for him to stay there for another year and then move on. My Leverkusen team could live with that, but I don't know if other clubs could either," Völler at an event of telecommunications company Telekom in Berlin. Advertisement Völler played in Leverkusen between 1994 and 1996. He was their coach on an interim basis twice and also had different positions at the club management. Wirtz has a contract with Leverkusen until June 2027, but Bayern Munich and Liverpool are reportedly working to sign him. According to reports, the Bayer pharmaceutical company, which owns Levekusen has, given the green light for the sale of Wirtz, but only for €150 million ($170.2 million). The high sum reportedly forced Manchester City out of the race for the 22-year-old. Völler didn't want to comment on the status of the negotiations. "Many people know that I still have a small office in Leverkusen, but they don't tell me everything anymore," he joked.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
German football director Völler: Rüdiger's outburst 'not acceptable'
Leverkusen's former sporting director and current sporting director of the national team Rudi Voeller gives an interview prior to the start of the UEFA Champions League soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Inter Milan at BayArena. Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa German Football Federation (DFB) sporting director Rudi Völler said that the outburst of Germany and Real Madrid defender Antonio Rüdiger in the Copa del Rey final was "not acceptable." "Especially as a Germany international. he has to change that and he knows that himself, as his public reaction shows," Völler told dpa on Monday. Advertisement "Toni is a great player, but as a national team player he must show class in his behaviour. He rightly demands respect for himself, and he must also show respect to others without exception." Völler's remarks, however, don't mean Rüdiger will be suspended from the national team, as TV pundits have called on. The incident happened during the Copa del Rey defeat to Barcelona on Saturday. Rüdiger, who had been subbed off, was sent off for throwing an object at the referee and angrily reacting to a foul given against team-mate Kylian Mbappe shortly before the final whistle. Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea said in his report that Rüdiger was dismissed for "throwing an object from the technical area, which missed me." The defender reportedly threw an ice cube at the official. Advertisement On Sunday, the player apologized for his actions. "There's definitely no excuse for my behaviour," Rüdiger posted on an Instagram story. "I'm very sorry for that. "Sorry again to the referee and to everyone I have disappointed." Lehmann: 'It's just the emotions' Former Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, meanwhile, defended Rüdiger. "He's become such a great player because of who he is. And if you want to take that out of him now, then he might no longer be at his full potential," he told the Welt TV. Lehmann added that Rüdiger didn't "show impeccable behavior," but that he thinks that the defender's actions are "excusable." "It's just the emotions that get the better of someone from time to time. I could say from my own experience that I was emotional myself."
Hamilton Spectator
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Real Madrid's Rüdiger rebuked by Germany's sporting director over ice incident in Copa del Rey
BERLIN (AP) — Antonio Rüdiger needs to show 'class' and respect for others, German national team sporting director Rudi Völler has said, after the defender appeared to throw ice toward the referee during Real Madrid's Copa del Rey loss to Barcelona. Rüdiger shouted at the referee and seemed to throw a small bag of ice during extra time in Madrid's 3-2 loss to Barcelona on Saturday. Rüdiger has since apologized for his behavior but the incident prompted former Germany player Dietmar Hamann to call Sunday for the defender to be left out of Germany's squad for the Nations League final four in June. 'You can't do that. And especially not as a player for the German national team. He needs to change that and he knows that himself, his public reaction shows that,' Völler told the dpa news agency in comments published Monday. 'Toni is a classy player, but as a player for the German national team he also needs to display class in his behavior. He rightly demands respect for himself (and) he needs to show this same respect to others without exception.' Völler's comments did not address whether Rüdiger's conduct could have any impact on national team selection. He added he didn't want Rüdiger to tone down his emotional approach to the game. 'Toni is an excellent soccer player and a very emotional guy, a fighter on the field,' Völler said. 'And he should stay that way.' Germany plays Portugal in the Nations League semifinals in Munich on June 4. ___ AP soccer:
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Real Madrid's Rüdiger rebuked by Germany's sporting director over ice incident in Copa del Rey
Real Madrid's Antonio Rudiger, left, challenges for the ball with Barcelona's Ferran Torres during the Spanish Copa del Rey final soccer match between Barcelona and Real Madrid at Estadio de La Cartuja stadium in Seville, Spain, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Breton) BERLIN (AP) — Antonio Rüdiger needs to show 'class' and respect for others, German national team sporting director Rudi Völler has said, after the defender appeared to throw ice toward the referee during Real Madrid's Copa del Rey loss to Barcelona. Rüdiger shouted at the referee and seemed to throw a small bag of ice during extra time in Madrid's 3-2 loss to Barcelona on Saturday. Advertisement Rüdiger has since apologized for his behavior but the incident prompted former Germany player Dietmar Hamann to call Sunday for the defender to be left out of Germany's squad for the Nations League final four in June. 'You can't do that. And especially not as a player for the German national team. He needs to change that and he knows that himself, his public reaction shows that,' Völler told the dpa news agency in comments published Monday. 'Toni is a classy player, but as a player for the German national team he also needs to display class in his behavior. He rightly demands respect for himself (and) he needs to show this same respect to others without exception.' Völler's comments did not address whether Rüdiger's conduct could have any impact on national team selection. He added he didn't want Rüdiger to tone down his emotional approach to the game. 'Toni is an excellent soccer player and a very emotional guy, a fighter on the field,' Völler said. 'And he should stay that way.' Germany plays Portugal in the Nations League semifinals in Munich on June 4. ___ AP soccer:
