RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesJürgen Klopp was recently appointed the new head coach of the German national team -Credit:Ralf Ibing - firo sportphoto, Getty Images
Jürgen Klopp has been handed advice on how his Germany side should set up, just days after accepting the role and threatening to walk away. The former Liverpool manager was the first name the German football federation (DFB) approached after Julian Nagelsmann stepped down following a disappointing FIFA World Cup that ended with a penalty shoot-out defeat to Paraguay in the Round of 32.
Klopp faces a considerable challenge, given it's been 10 years since the national team claimed victory in a knockout-round fixture at a major tournament. As Reds supporters will attest, Klopp operates on his own terms and won't tolerate any external meddling.
Nevertheless, that hasn't prevented German soccer icon and DFB sporting director Rudi Völler from offering Klopp his thoughts on how the team should operate. He believes Klopp's team should take their cues from world champions Spain, rather than runners-up Argentina, who have attracted widespread condemnation for their behavior in the Final, which saw them deploy cynical tactics before instigating a post-match confrontation, as per The Liverpool Echo .
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Speaking at the International Coaches' Congress in Mainz, Völler said : "We, Germany, need to defend better. Many people held up Argentina as an example, and I thought that was a bad example.
"All of a sudden, the Argentinians became the gold standard. I found it a bit hypocritical. I don't want a team that plays like Argentina. That has nothing to do with football.
"Yes, they were world champions and, this time, runners-up. But, honestly, I don't understand the praise from so many people."
Völler added: "Spain deserved all the praise. Not only for the way they kept possession and attacked, but also for the way they defended. They really are a role model. I also really liked England."
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Klopp has been unequivocal that he accepted the position out of patriotic duty rather than a desire to return to management. At his opening press conference, he stated he would walk away from the role if subjected to the same scrutiny that Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel - now in charge of England - faced from the German media.
He said: "I'm not doing this job for myself. I'm doing it for you. I'm taking this job even though I've seen how you've treated Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel.
"If tomorrow Jürgen Klopp is s*** then I will be gone. But if the DFB says, 'Come on, let's discontinue the job,' then that is it.
"And if you behave badly and don't leave my family in peace I will be gone, I'll just turn away. I love this job, but I'm always ready to call it quits."
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