Didi Hamann: Expectations have to be low for a great German recovery

The World Cup finalist with his forthright views

Germany manager Joachim LowCredit: Getty Images

Germany manager Joachim Low has somehow survived World Cup humiliation and Nations League disgrace and remains in charge of our national team, and I fear things will get worse before they get better with him at the helm.

A tame 1-1 draw against Serbia in the first international of the year did little to suggest things are going to improve any time soon under Low.

And it also showed the absolute folly in axing the Bayern Munich trio of Thomas Muller, Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels just when he needs them most.

Low is trying to rebuild and that’s overdue. But you can’t do that by simply jettisoning senior players who aren’t even that old, boast almost 250 caps between them and would have been invaluable during this next two-year cycle.

To drop them is one thing – to tell them they’ll never play for their country again is outrageous, and I’m not the only German who has been appalled at their treatment and the signals it sends out.

We won’t win Euro 2020 under Low. We won’t even win the group despite being odds-on favourites. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see us lose in Amsterdam against the Dutch, just as we did in the Nations League in October. Ronald Koeman’s men went on to qualify as Group C winners.

The mood in the dressing room is always key for Holland and right now it looks to be a harmonious place. The Ajax boys are blossoming in the Champions League and ready to flower internationally and you can win anything when you boast a centre-back as commanding as Virgil van Dijk.

For Germany, change was needed after the World Cup, certainly after the Nations League, and I don’t buy into the argument that there isn’t a natural heir waiting in the wings to take over. If you need to change, do it, and anyway I’m sure if you offered Ralf Rangnick the job he’d take it in some capacity.

Low’s popularity is on the wane with criticism flying from all angles and that isn’t healthy.

Germany went through 2018 winning one of seven competitive internationals and the signs are that 2019 is going to be no easier. We can all see a crisis but it’s not being addressed by the powers that be and these are seriously worrying times.

Virgil Van Dijk is the cream of the crop

Virgil van Dijk looks all over the PFA Player of the Year even though it’s an award that defenders don’t have a history of doing well in.

We’re only a few weeks away from the nominees being announced and in my mind it has to be Van Dijk, with Raheem Sterling presumably nicking second spot.

However, John Terry was the last central defender to win the prize and that was 14 years ago.

It’s hard to put into words quite how good Van Dijk has been for Liverpool. To improve a side from the day after you arrive is an achievement in itself but to transform that side is incredible.

He’s squeezed in between two relative rookie full-backs yet Liverpool defensively are simply outstanding. And that’s down to the leadership and the skills of the Dutchman.

To watch him is to watch a player who cruises around the pitch as though he’s got gears to move in. It’s not just his tackling, his passing, his heading - it’s his organisational sense, his positioning, his ability to read situations quickly.

Liverpool are blessed to have him because he’s a manager’s dream.