Adversaries for one night, but linked for life. At Signal Iduna Park, this Tuesday at 9 p.m., Rudi Völler and Didier Deschamps will take their places on the bench of their respective selections with a very different state of mind. On the one hand, the strong man of the Blues will be keen to confirm the very good dynamic of his team on the international scene. 2022 world vice-champion and leader of group B of the qualifying phases for Euro 2024 with 6 lengths ahead of the Netherlands and Greece, the French team will thus try to confirm its status as a dominant nation worldwide. As surprising as it may be, this observation cannot, however, apply to Germany, navigating, more than ever, in troubled waters.
The memory of May 26, 1993…
Eliminated in the first round of the last World Cup, and this for the second time in a row, the Mannschaft remains, in fact, in five matches in a row without a victory, including four defeats against Belgium, Poland, Colombia and Japan, on Saturday last. A final snub which will have also got the better of Hansi Flick, sacked from the German selection in the process. “The national team needed a new impetus after the disappointing results obtained recently. In view of the European Championship which will take place in our country, we need a spirit of renewal and confidence. For me personally, this is one of the most difficult decisions of my mandate so far., declared, in this capacity, Bernd Neuendorf, the president of the federation. A historic decision and a great first for the quadruple world champions, in their 123 years of existence.
It is therefore in this explosive context and a few months before the next Euro, organized in Germany from June 14 to July 14, that Rudi Völler and Didier Deschamps will shake hands at kick-off. Inducted on the German bench to act as interim, the sporting director of the Mannschaft will thus have the difficult task of playing the firefighter on duty in order to calm, somewhat, the fiery situation currently experienced across the Rhine. A special evening for the former Olympique de Marseille scorer, who stayed for two years at Canebière (1992-1994), who will therefore have the opportunity to meet his former teammate at Ciel et Blanc again. “I have a perfect relationship with Didier. The 1993 victory is a wonderful memory in my career, I was one of the oldest in the squad at the time (33 years old) and I can tell you that at the time, we had already noticed that Didier could become a coach. He already thought like a technician. And I knew that he would make a very good coach or coach in the future, I wasn’t too wrong.assured, in this respect, the 63-year-old German, present at a press conference and questioned about this final victory in the Champions League which will forever mark the history of French football.
Mutual respect, opposite destinies!
Far from sight but close to the heart, the two men who appreciate each other but rarely see each other throughout the year share, in fact, this common destiny: that of having lifted the cup with the big ears one evening in May 1993. Relaunched, in turn, on this reunion, Didier Deschamps also held a speech that was just as respectful towards his elder. “It’s my youth (he was 24 in 1993, editor’s note). Rudi had this cheerful temperament and it was a great pleasure to meet him, since I haven’t seen him again in thirty years. He was a huge scorer, a fighter and he had this joy of living all the time. He came from AS Roma at the time and he brought the southern atmosphere to Marseille, he’s a roomer. We enjoyed having him in the locker room every day.”.
Far from the calm tone lent by his French counterpart, Völler preferred to keep measured remarks in the face of the critical situation faced by Germany. “We will try to disrupt the France team, but we will have to be 100%. In any case, I can’t wait to see Didier on Tuesday before the match.”. Now far from the Marseille city, the two men – who left OM in 1994 following the club’s numerous legal setbacks – continue, today, their common passion on the benches. Having passed through Bayer Leverkusen as a player then twice as a coach, the man who also coached AS Roma for a few weeks found himself propelled to the head of the Mannschaft after a first experience between 2000 and 2004 (29 victories, 11 draws and 13 defeats in 53 matches).
For his part, the former Juventus Turin defensive midfielder, in position since 2012 at the head of the Blues, is starting a new cycle with Euro 2024 and the 2026 World Cup in his sights. Architect of the French coronation in 2018, the native of Bayonne also commands the admiration of his former teammate… “I’m impressed by its longevity”confided Rudi Völler on Monday evening before detailing the requirements of this function. “This position requires work and long-term results to deserve it. Otherwise you don’t stay. He has won club titles, now as a manager he handles pressure well. He was a world champion as a player and coach, what more can I say than that? Few people can boast of this in the world of football. But despite everything, we will try to shake him up tomorrow (this Tuesday, editor’s note)”. After the words, it is now time for actions for a reunion which already promises to be full of emotion.
