Olympia 2021: embarrassing bankruptcy for the DFB? Disgrace even before the first game

One week before the start of the soccer tournament at the Olympic Games, Stefan Kuntz expresses his displeasure.

His team travels to Tokyo with just 15 field players.

Tokyo - In August 2016, the football world was still looking forward to the final of the Olympic football tournament between Brazil and Germany.

Whether the final for the German team at this year's games in Tokyo * will work is questionable in view of the suboptimal composition.

While nations like Brazil and Spain flew to Japan with top stars, U21 coach Stefan Kuntz has to compete with a rump squad.

Before leaving, he vented his anger.

Olympia 2021: Kuntz expresses disappointment with the Olympic squad - coach criticizes the clubs

He received one rejection after the next for the special tournament, in addition to this fact, the support of the clubs for the DFB * -Olympia team decreased.

On Tuesday, the 58-year-old traveled to Tokyo with an 18-man squad, with 22 players per team.

"We had to create a list of 100 - and we can only make subsequent nominations from this," said Kuntz during the last training session before the long-haul flight.

"We phoned every player on this list or spoke to the clubs and there were 18 left," he said, disappointed.

He would have received help from some clubs, but some “stopped with the support behind the mountain”.

Olympia 2021: Kuntz nominates two players after all - mini-squad "not an optimal sign of football"

The Saarlander recently had to cope with the cancellations of Monaco newcomers Ismail Jakobs and Niklas Dorsch, who recently changed clubs and prefer the summer preparation at their new clubs.

For Neu-Augsburger Dorsch and the injured HSV defender Josha Vagnoman, Kuntz was able to nominate two players.

Ragnar Ache from Eintracht Frankfurt and Freiburg's Keven Schlotterbeck followed suit.

No adequate substitute was found for the remaining cancellations.

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“I believe that no sport does not fill all of the squad positions.

I think that is not the best sign of football - with all due understanding, ”complained the two-time U21 European champion *.

He also voiced the charge that “one or the other player” did not want to take part out of “selfish interests”.

“But that's also good with the complaint.

Otherwise we will not do justice to the guys who are enthusiastic about the Olympics ”, said Kuntz and is now looking forward to the tournament, where the“ first goal ”is the quarter-finals.

Olympia 2021: Opponents Brazil and Ivory Coast travel with stars - DFB team wants to go to the quarter-finals

With only 15 field players, Kuntz now has to tackle the Olympic mission, the Brazilian team is already waiting for the first game on July 22nd.

The Selecao Olympic selection does not read badly, including Bundesliga stars Matheus Cunha from Hertha BSC, Leverkusen's Paulinho and BVB * -Juwel Reinier.

With Everton striker Richarlison, there is also a real cracker in the squad, the 38-year-old Dani Alves ensures the necessary experience in the team.

Probably the most experienced in the DFB's Olympic team is Union striker Max Kruse *, who describes the nomination as "an honor".

The tournament is “anything but routine.

The little boy in me comes out a bit, ”said the 33-year-old.

In group D *, the German team meets Brazil, Saudi Arabia and the Ivory Coast.

The West Africans are also competing with well-known stars, including Eric Bailly and Amad Diallo from Manchester United and Franck Kessié from AC Milan.

Reaching the quarter-finals would be a real hurdle.

(ajr)

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