Football
9y

Oliver Bierhoff: 'Selfies' in Germany squad sometimes get on my nerves

Germany general manager Oliver Bierhoff has bemoaned the growing role of social media on players in the national team.

Two of the lasting images from the 2014 World Cup in Brazil were shot in the Germany dressing room following the opening win against Portugal and the victory in the final against Argentina.

Both shots showed German Chancellor Angela Merkel celebrating with Die Nationalmannschaft, while the one taken after the final also featured German President Joachim Gauck joining in with the celebrations.

The "selfies" with the German Chancellor were a huge hit on social-media sites, and were representative of the role that communication on the internet plays in modern-day football.

"Back in the old days, name recognition and likeability played a role for sponsors. These days, it also counts how active you are on social media," Bierhoff told Die Welt.

"But you have to keep up with the times and the new developments. But to me there is no extra value in telling the social networks that I'm in an interview right now. To be honest, those messages full of banality and also 'selfies' sometimes get on my nerves."

Germany internationals such as Mario Gotze, Lukas Podolski, Mesut Ozil and Andre Schurrle have long been using social-media sites to their advantage.

However, Bierhoff questioned whether such online activity actually worked in their favour.

"We'd have to find out which of our national team players actually has economic advantages from it, and if it helps their image. I don't think a player is less liked because he does not have a Facebook, Twitter or Instagram account," Bierhoff said.

"All of that sometimes has nothing to do with the real life -- dream worlds are created. But like I've said, I am aware of the economic factor and the informal character. At the DFB [German Football Association] we also use social media to inform or get certain messages out."

Bierhoff also stated that the way people communicate has changed and maybe not for the better.

"Back in 2005, we took the newspapers out from our dining room," he said. "We wanted the players to talk to each other more. They thought it was a good idea looking back on it. And today? Six players sit at a table, and they all are busy with their smartphones."

But in spite of his comments, Germany will not ban smartphones from the dressing room, according to Bierhoff.

"On the one hand, we don't allow any photographers into the dressing room, and on the other, players post pictures to social networks. I think you just can't stop it," he said.

"I think, we've acted responsibly. It's important for many players. And we have to move with the time -- whether that's always good is anyone's guess."

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