Matthaus: Can Germany afford to wait for Klopp?

Legendary Germany midfielder Lothar Matthaus believes his nation have a tough task to convince Jurgen Klopp to take charge.

Having sacked Hansi Flick after a humiliating home loss to Japan, the Germans are looking for their next head coach.

While Klopp is one of the favourites for the job, Matthaus is not sure he would be ready to leave Liverpool.

The fact that our national soccer team is no longer one of the world's best is not only due to coach Hansi Flick, but primarily to the players," wrote the World Cup winner in his Sky Sports column.

"It works in the clubs, but the national team lacks exactly the same passion that our basketball players showed (Germany recently won the FIBA Basketball World Cup). I'm not someone who says everything is bad after a game. But it hasn't worked for over a year. It was too calm and harmonious, the points of friction were missing. Something has to happen to give the team new fire. The question is, what does the DFB want? As a national coach, do you want a short-term and then a long-term solution? Or do you want something long-term right now?"

I would only understand that if you got Jurgen Klopp after the European Championship. However, if you wait for Klopp, you would be giving the players another excuse when the coach might only be there until next summer," added Matthaus.

Among the names traded there are some who would not continue the cuddly course, such as Matthias Sammer or Jurgen Klopp. The question is whether Klopp is ready to say goodbye to Liverpool and lead Germany out of the crisis? I would like to have a national coach who will lead the German national team back to where it belongs in the next few years."