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SportsDFB sports director Rudi Völler slams Argentina's playing style: 'That has nothing to do with football'
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At the BDFL International Coaches' Congress in Mainz, Germany, DFB sports director Rudi Völler sharply criticized the playing style of vice world champion Argentina. Speaking on Monday, Völler argued that Argentina should not be held up as a model for defending, calling the praise for their aggressive and unsportsmanlike approach 'hypocritical.' He stated, 'I don't want a team that plays like Argentina. That has nothing to do with football,' drawing applause from the audience of prominent coaches. Völler acknowledged Argentina's success as world and vice world champions but rejected the acclaim for their tactics. Instead, he pointed to Spain and England as better examples of combining solid defense with attractive football. The remarks come as Völler outlined areas for improvement for the German national team, particularly in defense.
Source report
Mainz – What does the German national team need to improve? This question was posed to DFB sports director Rudi Völler (66) on Monday at the BDFL (German Association of Football Teachers) International Coaches' Congress in Mainz. His answer: Germany must especially defend better.
Argentina superstar Lionel Messi (39) after the lost World Cup final. Photo: Agustin Marcarian/REUTERS
Völler was clear in his assessment — and simultaneously took a swipe at vice world champion Argentina. The 1990 world champion criticized that many had cited Argentina as a model for good defending during the World Cup. For Völler, this was incomprehensible.
"I said that we as Germany need to defend better. Many people took the Argentinians as an example. I thought that was a bad example. Suddenly the Argentinians were the measure of all things. I found the discussion a bit hypocritical."
He then became even more direct:
"I don't want a team that plays like Argentina. That has nothing to do with football."
This remark drew applause from the hall, which was filled with many well-known coaches and football personalities from across Germany. Völler made clear that while he acknowledges Argentina's results, he cannot understand the widespread recognition for their aggressive and sometimes unsportsmanlike style of play:
"Yes, they became world champions and this time vice world champions. But I really didn't understand this praise from many people."
Völler Praises Spain and England
For Völler, there are other examples Germany should follow. Spain and England, in particular, demonstrated at the World Cup how to defend successfully without abandoning their own football identity:
"Spain deserved the praise, and the English also defended very well."
Source
BILD - SportWestern
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Rudi Völler Criticizes Argentina's Playing Style at German Coaches' Congress