Julian Nagelsmann is the favourite to replace Hansi Flick as Germany manager

Julian Nagelsmann is the favourite to replace Hansi Flick as Germany manager.

The German national team has been in a major funk since the friendlies ahead of the World Cup in Qatar and the woes have continued. In Saturday’s embarrassing 4-1 loss to Japan, Germany’s attack looked toothless and its defense look incapable of dealing with the Japanese forwards and midfielders.

It was a debacle and now, the once-promising Hansi Flick Era for the German national team could be over. Rudi Völler is expected to sit on the bench against France and Julian Nagelsmann could be the next coach:

The DFB are planning to dismiss Hansi Flick today. A decision is about to be made. Rudi Völler will sit on the bench against France as interim coach. Julian Nagelsmann is the favourite to replace Flick.

Germany have dismissed Hansi Flick as head coach after they were thrashed 4-1 by Japan in a friendly on Saturday night.

The country is set to host the European Championship finals next summer and the German Football Association (DFB) has deemed it necessary to act at this stage. Flick is the first Germany manager to be sacked since the role came into existence in 1926.

The former striker Rudi Völler, alongside Hannes Wolf and Sandro Wagner, will take charge for the friendly against France on Tuesday.

“The bodies [of the DFB] shared the same view that the national team now needs a new impulse,” the DFB president, Bernd Neuendorf, said in a statement. “With next year’s Euro in sight we need enthusiastic mood and confidence.”

The 58-year-old left his role at Bayern in May 2021 to replace Joachim Löw with the national team, signing a three-year contract that was supposed to see him through to the end of Euro 2024, but after 12 wins in 25 matches Flick has departed. He had previously spent an eight‑year spell as Löw’s assistant, before joining Bayern in the same capacity until being promoted to head coach.

Saturday night was not the first time Flick’s Germany had lost against Japan in the past 12 months. They were defeated 2-1 at the World Cup in Qatar, eventually bowing out at the group stage on goal difference.