The Shocking Downfall of the German National Team

You've probably noticed that Germany used to be very good at football and now they're not.

Europe's most successful national football team have been dumped out in the group stage of the last two World Cups, having reached at least the last eight of every World Cup for the preceding 60 years.

It is a staggering decline, so in this documentary, HITC Sevens takes a look at Germany's rise and fall, the reasons for their current plight, and whether the situation is salvageable ahead of Germany hosting Euro 2024.

[yaldabaoth]

As a German, we collectively feel like we haven't won a game since the 2014 world cup final.

[a.e.a.]

As a non-German who grew up in Germany I believe the biggest problem with the German team is the rift between the team, media and most importantly the fans. Issues from outside the pitch dominate the narrative around the team and a lack of drive is noticeable especially with the older players.

[lisaruhm]

From a german: the inevitable downfall was noticeable at latest in 2018, and since the debacles of the early 2000s, the DFB has never changed anything major in terms of youth development. The players are missing mentality.

[RossoBianco]

I believe a major problem are the football youth academies in Germany. There's too little focus on character and personality development, it's too technical and lack age-specific training. In the end you get players who are technical and tactical good, but lack leadership, character and problem solving skills. This has been criticised by many coaches and sport psychologists, but has yet to be addressed by club and federation leadership.

[hekra]

As a German I have to admit you nailed it. No matter how much talent this team might have they are unable to score more goals than they concede.

[BulletClubLife]

As a German I can tell you that I genuinely can't care less about the state of the national team. The sheer arrogance, unwillingness to admit any wrongdoings, lack of any performance principles and more brought me to the point that I can only laugh about the team. I honestly hope Euro 2024 will be a complete embarrassment so that they finally wake up and change things drastically.

[kennyhoek]

16 WC Quarters, 13 WC Semis, 8 Finals, 4 Stars, Euro 9 Semis, 6 Finals & 3 Wins
The Germans are the most Consistent Nation of All Times 1934-2017

[jacekhansen]

I'm Polish, I've noticed Germany gradually declining since 2014, but when we beat them that's when I knew the situation was dire given how horrible our team is

[honnebombll]

I still remember an interview of the Mexican Coach after they beat us in the 2018 World Cup, he said "we knew for 2 years now how the germans will play and prepared for that."
The reaction of the DFB was to keep on playing like that till basically today.
Keeping the ball, passing around, no center striker only wing attackers, false 9 and all that out of time nonesense.
The problems are known in principle and that means that there will be a lack of the right players in the next few years, but the real limping thing is that, despite this, nothing has changed in the training of young talents, which means it wont get better in the foreseeable future.
So in conclusion since 2018 they know that their way of playing is outdated, and they still haven't changed anything.

[Ifeno]

As a German, thank you so much for making this video. I've been saying all of these things for years but no one wants to hear it. People just look at our massive collection of famous midfielders and go "Your team is great, why aren't you playing well?" when the reality is that this team has more holes in it that any German team I can remember.

[ItsJesssee]

One of the minor reasons is losing Klose no one has really come up to replace him they really lack a killer striker playing Havertz up top 😂

[andrewroberts]

As an Englishman, I think the decline in German football internationally is really sad. They were the team we judged ourselves against since 1970 and world football is in need of a strong German national side.

[Lordwxbb]

As a German, this video is spot on. It’s been so hard to watch them play. Everything has been in shambles with the talent we have. Just hope we don’t get completely embarrassed at home for euros 2024

[alfthehatter]

Also I think the semifinal match against France in 2016 that you mentioned is the first stage of the downfall, in that game I see too much sterile possession and wasted chances and how we were brutally exposed to France's counterattacks due to playing a way too high line (I think most would remember the Giroud memes from one specific counter). I think this match shows the blueprint on how to defeat this Germany side where teams such as Mexico, Japan and Korea showed in the World Cups, and Low was unable (or unwilling) to fix it.

[josebatxu]

As a Mexican, beating Germany in 2018 felt like a miracle. Ochoa made 18 saves that game, 18!!!! Most of the WC games Germany has lost recently are very similar, a dominant German team that can't for the life of them get the ball in the back of the net and costly mistakes on defense, mainly on counterattacks. I do believe the giant is still in there somewhere, sound asleep, they just need to focus their efforts on finding goalscorers and developing a defensive wall and they will probably get back on their winning ways

[justaravensfan]

I live in the USA, but I know someone who’s dad is originally from Germany. He said that fans are starting to lose interest in the team and there is a disconnect between the team and the fans. For example, he said that no one was excited to watch Germany in the World Cup because they knew their team wasn’t good enough.

[HBL]

Im just one of 82 mio armchair coaches, but IMO the obsession with the Spain/Barca teams from 13 years ago is the biggest reason of the downfall. They suddenly wanted to play pretty instead of the effective but boring german way. They wanted to play a false 9 like Barca with Messi because they had also those great winger, but pretty much ignored that Messi is a one of a kind that literally could play every offensive forward/midfield position and be world class at it.
I genuinely believe that the success will be back if they played with a real 9 and a real 6, no matter how good they are.

[ItsJesssee]

Italy and Germany fell of massively but Germany takes the lead because they’ve underwhelmed so much in recent years

[irfanahmed]

As a non-German and supporter of the German National Football Team; the main problems are the lack of a leader-like role in the team, the outside interferences of Media and Clubs ( especially Bayern Munich) and imbalance in the team ( more midfielders than solid forwards).

[doppelplusungutmensch]

German football fans don't even care about the national team anymore. It's only about rainbows, pride flags, politically correct statements, climate change, antisexism, antiracism, antiwhateverism and the right political stand, instead of football.

There was a time in which the streets were empty when Germany played. Now nobody cares anymore, not even the stadiums are full. Whenever Germany played, no matter if they won or lost, the comments in the social media are complaining about the team not having anything to do with football anymore.