By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- The future of struggling German national coach Joachim Loew remains uncertain.
The German Football Association (DFB) has set a December 4 deadline for the 60-year-old to present a convincing plan for next year's Euro and an analysis of the disastrous 6-0 defeat against Spain in the last Nations League encounter.
Loew is expected to deliver a precise picture of the team's development over the past two years after the early group exit at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The DFB has demanded national team manager Oliver Bierhoff to present the findings as the 52-year-old is Loew's boss. He is responsible for all national team issues.
The association wants to avoid the impression that Loew has to attend a tribunal.
It is said Bierhoff will meet with the coaching staff, including Loew, a day in advance.
In respect to Loew's achievements, the coach has been made to think over his situation in the coming two weeks.
The case seems to boil down to a contest between Loew and former Leipzig coach Ralf Rangnick. Liverpool coach Juergen Klopp and Bayern manager Hansi Flick have both announced that they are not available at short notice due to club commitments.
Rangnick isn't overwhelmingly popular on the DFB board.
Media speak about worries regarding Rangnick's demands to restructure the national team management and update the academy system.
Rangnick is said to have counted on broad power when supervising the successful rise of clubs like TSG Hoffenheim, RB Leipzig, and Salzburg.
The DFB's announcement increases the pressure on Bierhoff, whose duties around the national seem in danger if the former striker can't convince the board.
Reports speak of divergent opinions amongst top-ranking officials.
Inside reports speak of the association's non-negotiable requirement that Loew has to pick Thomas Mueller again. The Bayern striker had been ignored by Loew since in March 2019, as have experienced defenders' Mats Hummels (Dortmund) and Jerome Boateng (Bayern).
Some speak of demands about the return of Hummels.
Reports indicate Loew has to revoke his decision to achieve a re-start without Mueller and Hummels and speak about the 2014 World Cup-winning coach having to overcome an emotional barrier.
Considering the dwindling approval ratings among fans, Loew seems forced to make a U-turn and count on the support of Bayern's 2020 treble-winning duo Mueller and Joshua Kimmich as his team leaders.
Appointing Rangnick would come near the situation in 2004 when Juergen Klinsmann started making fundamental changes to the national team.
Bierhoff is said to somewhat back Loew after 14 years of collaboration. The duo has enjoyed five semifinal participations at World Cups and European Championships, culminating in Germany's triumphal march at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.