Germany manager Joachim Low will remain in his job despite the World Cup debacle which saw the holders crash out after the group stages, according to reports on Tuesday.
Both Germany's best-selling daily Bild and Sport Bild magazine claim the 58-year-old will stay on to rebuild the national team, which finished bottom of their group in Russia. The Germans bowed out after shock defeats to Mexico and South Korea.
It was the first time since 1938 that a Germany side failed to get past the first round at a World Cup finals - a huge dent to Low's reputation after 12 successful years in charge.
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The German Football Association (DFB) has yet to confirm the reports, but Low has a contract until the 2022 World Cup. He returned from Russia considering his future, but the DFB said they would not sack him.
He has promised a clearout of the squad and several of the World Cup winners who under-performed in Russia may have played their last game for their country.
"It needs far-reaching measures, it needs clear change," Low said last week when Germany arrived home in disgrace.
Having to leave the World Cup already after the group stage hurts so much. We just weren't good enough. I'll need some time to get over it. #SayNoToRacism #Worldcup #Russia2018 #M1Ö pic.twitter.com/mFOOhYQZen
— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) June 29, 2018
Senior players Sami Khedira, Toni Kroos and Thomas Mueller have given Low their backing, yet could all face the axe after poor displays.
There are, however, reports of player disgruntlement in other quarters with Loew.
Frankfurt-based newspaper FAZ quoted unnamed Germany players who said the squad was deeply divided between senior and younger players in Russia.
There was also resentment to the special status given to captain Manuel Neuer. The goalkeeper played all three group games, ahead of Barcelona's Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, even though Neuer had just returned from eight months sidelined by a foot fracture.
We are all still so disappointed. We had big plans, but we failed. I'm proud to have played for the 1st time for #GER at a World Cup, but to exit in the group stage is nothing but frustrating. We have to get up again for the challenges after the summer break - and we will. 🇩🇪⚽ pic.twitter.com/cJbt1TvstH
— Ilkay Gündogan (@IlkayGuendogan) June 30, 2018
That was "a problem for some players" as Low had said he would only use those who were playing well regularly.
Other complaints included Low giving priority to established players, the choice of Germany's isolated World Cup base in south-west Moscow and the poor handling of the pre-World Cup scandal involving Mesut Ozil and Ilkay Gundogan.
Their loyalty to Germany was brought into question on the eve of the World Cup after meeting Turkey president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who Gundogan presented with a jersey signed "to my president".
#WM2018 @DFB_Team pic.twitter.com/1Tf6S2JMyn
— Jérôme Boateng (@JeromeBoateng) June 28, 2018
Both players were booed by German fans during pre-World Cup friendlies, which overshadowed preparations for the finals.
Ozil refused to comment on the controversy during the World Cup while Gundogan gave a single interview in which he said the furore was "a difficult experience".
