I did not have high expectations when I stated watching the show, but I must admit that the filming, cutting and pacing was very good. These four episodes went by rather quickly, I was not bored for a minute.
I will not discuss the politics regarding the World Cup in Qatar, I believe society has done so and came to a common understanding. Instead, I want to highlight those aspects that fascinated me from a sports perspective.
What stood out the most was the depressed atmosphere within the German team, which this show managed to capture quite intensely. A team fully of highly talented players, that, as much as it hurts to say, seem to lack drive and, most importantly, personality.
Most of these players have played together for years, a majority of them even at the club level at Bayern Munich. Ironically not too long before the World Cup, some of them had won everything possible in just one season under Hansi Flick. Naturally, expectations were high. That makes it all the more shocking to see their low levels of energy, those blank stares at team meetings and the defeaning silence on and off the pitch.
The only exception, in my opinion, was Niclas Füllkrug. Recruited from Werder Bremen, then playing in the second German division, he radiates confidence, positivity and shows he is a true teamplayer. His speech ahead of the game against Spain was heartfelt and tradgically remained the only one that reached the team throughout the whole tournament.
All or Nothing is also a story about fall from grace of Hansi Flick. Having won everything possible within in just one year at Bayern Munich, he failed dramatically to inspire confidence in what seemed to be a broken team. Incapable of leaving aside professionalism, he seemed to intimidate his players even more rather than trying to connect with them emotionally.
All or Nothing was a great show for any fan interested in learning more about the inner workings of the German national team in Qatar, and ultimately about the reasons, why they came short again.
I will not discuss the politics regarding the World Cup in Qatar, I believe society has done so and came to a common understanding. Instead, I want to highlight those aspects that fascinated me from a sports perspective.
What stood out the most was the depressed atmosphere within the German team, which this show managed to capture quite intensely. A team fully of highly talented players, that, as much as it hurts to say, seem to lack drive and, most importantly, personality.
Most of these players have played together for years, a majority of them even at the club level at Bayern Munich. Ironically not too long before the World Cup, some of them had won everything possible in just one season under Hansi Flick. Naturally, expectations were high. That makes it all the more shocking to see their low levels of energy, those blank stares at team meetings and the defeaning silence on and off the pitch.
The only exception, in my opinion, was Niclas Füllkrug. Recruited from Werder Bremen, then playing in the second German division, he radiates confidence, positivity and shows he is a true teamplayer. His speech ahead of the game against Spain was heartfelt and tradgically remained the only one that reached the team throughout the whole tournament.
All or Nothing is also a story about fall from grace of Hansi Flick. Having won everything possible within in just one year at Bayern Munich, he failed dramatically to inspire confidence in what seemed to be a broken team. Incapable of leaving aside professionalism, he seemed to intimidate his players even more rather than trying to connect with them emotionally.
All or Nothing was a great show for any fan interested in learning more about the inner workings of the German national team in Qatar, and ultimately about the reasons, why they came short again.
