Sammer Criticises Germany's Early Exit: "Performance Principle Is Dead – Appearance Over Substance"

July 24 – Germany's World Cup exit at the hands of Paraguay in the Round of 16, losing on penalties, continues to provoke deep reflection nearly four weeks later. Borussia Dortmund advisor and 1996 European champion Matthias Sammer has pointed to fundamental problems within the German Football Association (DFB), stating that the national team's "performance principle" has been severely undermined.

Speaking in an interview, Sammer admitted that before the tournament he believed Germany could win a fifth World Cup. "I was convinced we had prepared thoroughly and that every player would perform at their best. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case." He had hoped that players would have to undergo strict performance diagnostics and fitness tests – but that didn't happen.

"The performance principle in the national team has been severely damaged recently," Sammer said. "You could have judged whether the players were in the best physical condition. But as in previous years, this tournament was no longer about performance. It's about feeling good. Illusions play a role, and conflicts aren't resolved." He believes the team lacks a genuine assessment of their competitive state, replaced by a culture that avoids problems.

Sammer went further, criticising the DFB's selection mechanisms and training structure: "Sometimes appearance outweighs substance. The team reflects our society. They try to achieve exceptional results by following rules that prioritise comfort and satisfaction – that doesn't work in sport or in life."

He argued that the problem is rooted in the entire DFB structure, from clubs to regional associations, youth performance centres, and professional clubs that ultimately supply the national team. "Performance barely matters anymore. Results – whether wins or losses – are no longer that important." The system is too lenient and lacks the necessary competitive edge.

Sammer believes these fundamental issues were exposed at the World Cup. He specifically mentioned Argentina: "I prefer the way they play to what I currently see from Germany."

Source: sport.de