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BERLIN, Nov. 29-- 2017 world champion Germany needs to improve its junior coaching system, according to Joti Chatzialexiou and Meikel Schoenweitz in a recent Xinhua interview. The German association's Director of Sports and the head-coach for national youth teams said major changes are imminent to modernize the country's coaching methods and development of talent. Germany needs to catch up on individuality and creativity after suffering a humiliating 2018 World Cup, going out in the first round for the first time since 1938. A few weeks before their youngsters were eliminated from the European U-17 Championship in the group following heavy defeats by Spain and the Netherlands, who went on to win the competition. Those shocks may well trigger a substantial change in the country's football culture - with greater emphasis on the schooling of youngsters. "There are other European countries who are doing a better job with their younger age groups. Our job is to put this right in the not too distant future," Chatzialexiou commented. England, France, and Belgium have made huge investments and implemented fundamental changes. Germany still has high standards but is forced to close the growing gap compared to other leading football nations. NEW COACHING APPROACH Recently, the managing director national team and academy, Oliver Bierhoff, said the future generations lack spearheads and full-backs capable of fulfilling modern football requirements. Bierhoff spoke about the significant weaknesses in the schooling system. | 
