Wück: Our performances were not good enough in the last two matches. But you can’t forget that the boys are 16, 17 years old. It’s difficult to maintain a certain level for so many consecutive matches. It is also their first World Cup, and have played against teams from outside Europe for the first time. These new experiences will have a positive impact in the long run. We will analyse the entire tournament in the coming weeks.
DFB.de: What was the atmosphere like in the dressing room?
Wück: There was of course significant disappointment, as we came here with big aims. Having to fly home before the quarterfinals is very frustrating. We will use the next two days to spend time together as a team, and build ourselves up again.
DFB.de: The World Cup round of 16 was your last game with the 1998 year group. What are your best memories of the previous one and half years working with this team?
Wück: I have so many positive memories. We have been very successful as a team in past years. I have fond memories of the European Championship qualification in Hessen, where we played in front of sold out stands. The EUROs in Bulgaria were excellent, where we got to the final without conceding a goal or losing a game. And the last there weeks, which have been very intense. I wish the boys all the best, and hope that they all achieve their goals. I wish Patrick Fritsch all the best especially, who flew home after the match yesterday.
DFB.de: What’s next for you?
Wück: I will once again work with the U16 team. The boys in the 2000 year group have a lot of potential, and we have two games on the 19th and 21st of November which we will now prepare for. I don’t have very much time to dwell on the 'what ifs'.
After a 2-0 loss to Croatia in the round of 16 of the U17 World Cup in Chile, the DFB team are out. Nikola Moro and Davor Lovren ended their dreams of a first World Cup triumph in the U17 age group. In an interview with DFB, manager Christian Wück had his say, summing up the tournament and explaining where he goes from here.
DFB.de: Mr. Wück, the World Cup campaign has come to an end for your team, why has this happened so early?
Christian Wück: I’d like to start by congratulating Croatia on their progression to the next round. They deserved the win, they were simply more clinical than us.
DFB.de: Why did you not do better in the game?
Wück: We didn’t get into the game in the first half. We were too late in getting to the tackles, and make a lot of mistakes in our build up. It was better in the second half, we had a good phase of 15-20 minutes in which we carved out multiple good opportunities. Unfortunately we couldn’t score any goals.
DFB.de: Since the sensational 4-0 win over Argentina in the second group match and early qualification to the next round, things have not gone to plan.
Wück: You’re not wrong. We played a level below our potential against Mexico too, and unfortunately that continued into the first half of the match against Croatia.
DFB.de: Do you have an explanation?
Wück: Our performances were not good enough in the last two matches. But you can’t forget that the boys are 16, 17 years old. It’s difficult to maintain a certain level for so many consecutive matches. It is also their first World Cup, and have played against teams from outside Europe for the first time. These new experiences will have a positive impact in the long run. We will analyse the entire tournament in the coming weeks.
DFB.de: What was the atmosphere like in the dressing room?
Wück: There was of course significant disappointment, as we came here with big aims. Having to fly home before the quarterfinals is very frustrating. We will use the next two days to spend time together as a team, and build ourselves up again.
DFB.de: The World Cup round of 16 was your last game with the 1998 year group. What are your best memories of the previous one and half years working with this team?
Wück: I have so many positive memories. We have been very successful as a team in past years. I have fond memories of the European Championship qualification in Hessen, where we played in front of sold out stands. The EUROs in Bulgaria were excellent, where we got to the final without conceding a goal or losing a game. And the last there weeks, which have been very intense. I wish the boys all the best, and hope that they all achieve their goals. I wish Patrick Fritsch all the best especially, who flew home after the match yesterday.
DFB.de: What’s next for you?
Wück: I will once again work with the U16 team. The boys in the 2000 year group have a lot of potential, and we have two games on the 19th and 21st of November which we will now prepare for. I don’t have very much time to dwell on the 'what ifs'.
