Klaus Allofs is looking at Thursday’s EURO 2016 semi-final between Germany and France (21:00 CEST) from two angles. On the one side, he has a strong connection with France - the former striker played in the French top division for Marseille and Bordeaux between 1987 and 1990. On the other side, the long-serving Germany international, who won the 1980 European Championship with the national team, is thrilled for his country. As current VfL Wolfsburg sporting director, two of his players, Julian Draxler and André Schürrle, are taking part in the tournament. The 49-year-old spoke to DFB.de editor Oliver Jensen about the semi-final, "his" Wolfsburg players and French football.
DFB.de: Mr Allofs, you played in France for three years. What was French football like back then and how is it currently?
Klaus Allofs: In my day, there were good clubs in France, particularly Marseille and Bordeaux. French football wasn’t as athletic as German. Instead, technical elements were the focus. The French wanted to play beautiful and spectacular football.
DFB.de: Has that changed over the years?
Allofs: The French have always looked at the Germans with lots of melancholy and a bit of misunderstanding. They’ve asked: How can it be the case that Germany play less attractive football but are more successful? It was down to focussing on effectiveness. Marseille’s 1993 Champions League victory added to an increasing self-confidence over teams’ own styles of play. In the meanwhile, France, and in particular the national side, mastered the art of having a good balance between being effective and playing attractive football.
DFB.de: In your opinion, who is the stand-out player of EURO 2016 so far?
Allofs: You can obviously name French stars Antoine Griezmann and Dimitri Payet, who have scored lots of goals. When I look at our team, Manuel Neuer and Jérôme Boateng are both players who consistently perform and help guarantee success. Due to my connections with Wolfsburg, I have to mention Julian Draxler. (laughs)
DFB.de: Let’s talk about Julian Draxler, who was named Man of the Match in the round of 16 game against Slovakia. What impression has he made?
Allofs: I’m very pleased with him. According to lots of predictions, it wasn’t envisaged that he’d be in the starting line-up. It was always clear to me that at a tournament, in which the team grow together, he would show his qualities on a daily basis. He’s really promoted both himself and VfL Wolfsburg.
DFB.de: Were you surprised that Draxler started on the bench in the quarterfinal against Italy?
Allofs: I’m obviously not entirely objective. (smiles)I always wish that our players start games as often as possible. However, the tactics of setting up in a more defensive manner against Italy were completely understandable. I was therefore not totally surprised. Julian is a player, who is always capable of providing the difference with his style of play.
DFB.de: Has EURO 2016 been similar to his season at VfL Wolfsburg? Also at club level, he took a bit of time to find his feet.
Allofs: Julian is still very young and is continually developing. VfL Wolfsburg is the first club he’s been at outside his hometown. Of course, everything doesn’t always go smoothly. But he has learnt lots and has grown into a real talent. In terms of potential, Julian is among the best footballers in Germany. The more comfortable he feels and the greater self-belief he has, the more frequently he can live up to that potential.
DFB.de: Another one of Wolfsburg’s internationals, André Schürrle, only appeared as a substitute during the group stages. Germany are in need of a striker against France after Mario Gomez’s injury. Schürrle isn’t actually a trained centre-forward but he has played there for VfL Wolfsburg occasionally. Could he also do this role for the national team?
Allofs: Yes, of course. He isn’t your classic striker as we have said and doesn’t move like Mario Gomez in the box. He brings other skills though. He is a very versatile player who can affect the game with his pace and he has a good shot. He is one of the best finishers in the squad and showed that with his positivity in the group stage.
DFB.de: He comes off the bench a lot of the time for Germany. Is Schürrle the perfect substitute?
Allofs: He would be happier if he was starting. However, He isn’t a player who needs long to get his rhythm so he can always do a good job as a substitute.
DFB.de: Not a day goes by where there isn’t speculation about Draxler and Schürrle leaving. What’s your view on it?
Allofs: There is always a lot of transfer rumours during a big tournament. We want to keep hold of both players and keep on competing at the top of the Bundesliga. They have already heard what I think of them. I will try and do everything I can to get them to stay.
DFB.de: Back to the European Championship: Germany will be facing the hosts when they play France. You experienced a semi-final against France at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. Are matches against the hosts especially difficult?
Allofs: We are playing a team that rises to the occasion – we’re facing them at this point in the tournament as well. Being the hosts at a European Championship or World Cup can be inhibiting at the beginning. However, France are now about to take on the current World Champions in the semi-final and the whole nation is behind them. It will make it a difficult task for Germany.
DFB.de: What do you think of the way Germany have played so far?
Allofs: I believe that Germany are the best team in the tournament. The have the most individual quality and are tactically sound. Obviously, that begs the questions as to how they will compensate for injuries and how the new players will incorporated.
DFB.de: You became a World Champion in Italy in 1980. It was something of a mini-EURO in comparison to the current one, as it only had two groups of four teams. You moved straight through to the final after the group stages. Currently the European Championship has 24 teams participating. Which do you prefer?
Allofs: The players have more of an opportunity to sand out. The range of teams taking part has also changed the perception of the tournament. 24 countries participate now and there is a massive amount of interest in a lot of countries. The way the tournament has grown is good thing for football.
created by mmc/kr/ma
Klaus Allofs is looking at Thursday’s EURO 2016 semi-final between Germany and France (21:00 CEST) from two angles. On the one side, he has a strong connection with France - the former striker played in the French top division for Marseille and Bordeaux between 1987 and 1990. On the other side, the long-serving Germany international, who won the 1980 European Championship with the national team, is thrilled for his country. As current VfL Wolfsburg sporting director, two of his players, Julian Draxler and André Schürrle, are taking part in the tournament. The 49-year-old spoke to DFB.de editor Oliver Jensen about the semi-final, "his" Wolfsburg players and French football.
DFB.de: Mr Allofs, you played in France for three years. What was French football like back then and how is it currently?
Klaus Allofs: In my day, there were good clubs in France, particularly Marseille and Bordeaux. French football wasn’t as athletic as German. Instead, technical elements were the focus. The French wanted to play beautiful and spectacular football.
DFB.de: Has that changed over the years?
Allofs: The French have always looked at the Germans with lots of melancholy and a bit of misunderstanding. They’ve asked: How can it be the case that Germany play less attractive football but are more successful? It was down to focussing on effectiveness. Marseille’s 1993 Champions League victory added to an increasing self-confidence over teams’ own styles of play. In the meanwhile, France, and in particular the national side, mastered the art of having a good balance between being effective and playing attractive football.
DFB.de: In your opinion, who is the stand-out player of EURO 2016 so far?
Allofs: You can obviously name French stars Antoine Griezmann and Dimitri Payet, who have scored lots of goals. When I look at our team, Manuel Neuer and Jérôme Boateng are both players who consistently perform and help guarantee success. Due to my connections with Wolfsburg, I have to mention Julian Draxler. (laughs)
DFB.de: Let’s talk about Julian Draxler, who was named Man of the Match in the round of 16 game against Slovakia. What impression has he made?
Allofs: I’m very pleased with him. According to lots of predictions, it wasn’t envisaged that he’d be in the starting line-up. It was always clear to me that at a tournament, in which the team grow together, he would show his qualities on a daily basis. He’s really promoted both himself and VfL Wolfsburg.
DFB.de: Were you surprised that Draxler started on the bench in the quarterfinal against Italy?
Allofs: I’m obviously not entirely objective. (smiles)I always wish that our players start games as often as possible. However, the tactics of setting up in a more defensive manner against Italy were completely understandable. I was therefore not totally surprised. Julian is a player, who is always capable of providing the difference with his style of play.
DFB.de: Has EURO 2016 been similar to his season at VfL Wolfsburg? Also at club level, he took a bit of time to find his feet.
Allofs: Julian is still very young and is continually developing. VfL Wolfsburg is the first club he’s been at outside his hometown. Of course, everything doesn’t always go smoothly. But he has learnt lots and has grown into a real talent. In terms of potential, Julian is among the best footballers in Germany. The more comfortable he feels and the greater self-belief he has, the more frequently he can live up to that potential.
DFB.de: Another one of Wolfsburg’s internationals, André Schürrle, only appeared as a substitute during the group stages. Germany are in need of a striker against France after Mario Gomez’s injury. Schürrle isn’t actually a trained centre-forward but he has played there for VfL Wolfsburg occasionally. Could he also do this role for the national team?
Allofs: Yes, of course. He isn’t your classic striker as we have said and doesn’t move like Mario Gomez in the box. He brings other skills though. He is a very versatile player who can affect the game with his pace and he has a good shot. He is one of the best finishers in the squad and showed that with his positivity in the group stage.
DFB.de: He comes off the bench a lot of the time for Germany. Is Schürrle the perfect substitute?
Allofs: He would be happier if he was starting. However, He isn’t a player who needs long to get his rhythm so he can always do a good job as a substitute.
DFB.de: Not a day goes by where there isn’t speculation about Draxler and Schürrle leaving. What’s your view on it?
Allofs: There is always a lot of transfer rumours during a big tournament. We want to keep hold of both players and keep on competing at the top of the Bundesliga. They have already heard what I think of them. I will try and do everything I can to get them to stay.
DFB.de: Back to the European Championship: Germany will be facing the hosts when they play France. You experienced a semi-final against France at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. Are matches against the hosts especially difficult?
Allofs: We are playing a team that rises to the occasion – we’re facing them at this point in the tournament as well. Being the hosts at a European Championship or World Cup can be inhibiting at the beginning. However, France are now about to take on the current World Champions in the semi-final and the whole nation is behind them. It will make it a difficult task for Germany.
DFB.de: What do you think of the way Germany have played so far?
Allofs: I believe that Germany are the best team in the tournament. The have the most individual quality and are tactically sound. Obviously, that begs the questions as to how they will compensate for injuries and how the new players will incorporated.
DFB.de: You became a World Champion in Italy in 1980. It was something of a mini-EURO in comparison to the current one, as it only had two groups of four teams. You moved straight through to the final after the group stages. Currently the European Championship has 24 teams participating. Which do you prefer?
Allofs: The players have more of an opportunity to sand out. The range of teams taking part has also changed the perception of the tournament. 24 countries participate now and there is a massive amount of interest in a lot of countries. The way the tournament has grown is good thing for football.
