the German team will no longer use the nickname “die Mannschaft”, for lack of popularity across the Rhine

Raus, die Mannschaft! No more question since Thursday July 28 to use this German word meaning “team” to refer to the selection of Germany. The German Football Federation (DFB) announced in a press release (in German) no longer use this term to advertise or refer to its players. A decision taken unanimously by the board of directors of the federation, during a meeting in Frankfurt.

In the wake of the announcement, the social media accounts were changed and the term was retired in favor of the term “DFB” or simply “Germany”, “Germany” in English. The president of the federation, Bernd Neuendorf, justified the abandonment of this nickname instituted in 2015 in the wake of the victory at the 2014 World Cup: “Polls and analyzes have shown that the name ‘Die Mannschaft’ enjoys a high profile and is particularly popular abroad. But it is also true that here in fan circles it sometimes makes the object of criticism and emotional discussion.”

“Hansi Flick’s team [le sélectionneur d’Allemagne] is there for everyone, and everyone can call it what they want. After all, it’s not so much the name of the team that counts, but what’s in it.”, added Alexander Wehrle, Chairman of the DFB Supervisory Board. Un recent survey commissioned by the German channel RTL (article in German) July 23 pointed out that 49 % of respondents did not have a good opinion of this nickname. No new name has been announced as a replacement.