Germany's beleaguered coach Hansi Flick insists he doesn't fear the sack ahead of the make-or-break clash with Costa Rica.
The four-time world champions are on the brink of being eliminated at the group stages for the second successive tournament after a shock 2-1 defeat by Japan was followed by a 1-1 draw with Spain. And after former skipper Philipp Lahm cranked up the pressure by questioning Flick’s use of substitutes in the opening game calls for a change of coach are sure to intensify if Germany are knocked out.
Flick, who was Joachim Low’s assistant for Germany’s World Cup triumph in Brazil eight years ago, said: “I can only confirm the future from my side - that I have a contract until 2024 and that I am looking forward to the European Championships at home.
“I don’t feel any pressure - and I didn’t feel any pressure after the defeat to Japan. We didn’t have much time before the tournament and the longer we’re together the more we improve.
“The problem is that it is not in our hands. It goes without saying that the first game did not go like we wanted. We must try to exert our own pressure from the start. We know it will be really difficult.”
Lahm, who now works for the German FA, felt that bringing off Ilkay Gundogan and Thomas Muller against the Japanese stripped the team of much-needed experience.
“Flick should rely on players with a lot of international experience,” said Lahm, who was a key player in the team that lifted the World Cup in 2018. “He didn't do it during the Japan game and the team broke.”
Flick has only been in the job for 18 months after being appointed in the aftermath of the Euro defeat by England at Wembley.
Germany could keep qualification in their own hands by winning 8-0 against a Costa Rican side that bounced back from a 7-0 defeat to Spain by beating Japan.
Flick said: “It would be disrespectful to Costa Rica if we said we want to score eight goals. We will be happy just to win the game. It is all about getting a positive result.
“For Costa Rica to concede seven goals in their first game and then beat Japan is no mean feat. I look at the table and I see that Costa Rica also have an opportunity to go to the last 16.”
France’s Stephanie Frappart will become the first woman to referee at the World Cup - and both Flick and his Costa Rica counterpart Luis Fernando Suarez welcomed the appointment.
Suarez said: “I am a great admirer of women who want to conquer things. Football has always been a sexist sport and it has been very difficult to reach this point.
“I like it. It’s a positive step for the game. It is a democratic step that we have a woman referee at the World Cup.”
Flick added: “I trust her. I think she deserves to be here and I hope she is looking forward to the match like we all are. I think she will do really well.”
