By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- 2014 world champions Germany have lost contact with the leading nations in world football when it comes to young talents, said Hans-Joachim Watzke.
The Borussia Dortmund CEO emphasized it is time to ring all alarm bells and change the German education system significantly. He called it the biggest challenge to improve the systems efficiency and the content of education.
Since the early group exit of the German national team at the 2018 World Cup, a controversial debate is keeping German football busy.
Like Watzke, several coaches and former internationals demanded to adjust the current system. It is necessary to encourage young talents to develop enthusiasm for dribbling and taking decisions, said Stefan Kuntz, coach of Germany's under 21 juniors.
Some others spoke about a mentality problem.
"The German talent education has lost orientation and has left the path leading to success," Watzke commented in a recent Xinhua interview on the sidelines of his clubs' winter training camp in the south of Spain.
He doesn't see Germany on the same level as other nations he added.
"We are not well positioned in that case anymore," the club boss of the Blacks and Yellows added.
The 59-year-old said all of Germany's clubs are trying to find youngsters abroad due to the lack of talents back home. He noted that Dortmund are no exception and mentioned Manchester City talent Jadon Sancho who joined Borussia at the age of 17.
Next to Sancho the side signed youngsters from several countries like Christian Pulisic (USA), Ousmane Dembele, Dan-Axel Zagadou (France), Alexander Isaak (Sweden) and Achraf Hakimi (Morocco). According to reports, Dortmund now agreed on a deal worth 15 million euros with 19-year-old Argentinian Leonardo Balerdi from Boca Juniors.
Watzke said the quality level of the age group of the 16 to 20-year-old talents in Germany has declined. Only Kai Havertz, the 19-year-old midfielder from Bayer Leverkusen, is addressing top international standards.
It is necessary to create more individuality. "Football is a team sport, but we need individuals and game deciders that are fully focused," he emphasized.
Latest figures seem to support Watzke's thesis.
None of Germany's youngsters was mentioned among the ten last nominees of the Kopa award launched by France football, the founder of the Ballon d'Or. The award is dedicated to the most prominent youth talent in football.
In the Youth League of the UEFA, German sides don't play an important role.
German clubs must provide more opportunities for youngsters to gain experience in the first teams. "We must consider to take more risks and let them play. I am sure we all can benefit from it. It will pay off," he commented adding examples of clubs abroad are telling the story.
Germany has enough young footballers ready to do the next step. "But we must help them," Watzke said.
