Former Germany head coach Berti Vogts hopes a new "healthy culture of debate" can help the national team return to its former glory.

Germany crashed out of the World Cup at the group stage, which led to team director Oliver Bierhoff leaving his role.

There was speculation boss Hansi Flick would follow him, but the former Bayern Munich coach has confirmed he will be staying on board.

Vogts, who led Germany between 1990 and 1998, believes the German Football Association (DFB) has paid the price for fostering a harmonious atmosphere and wants Matthias Sammer appointed to ruffle some feathers. 

"I was surprised that Oliver Bierhoff went so quickly," he wrote in the Rheinische Post. "But it speaks for his character that he is retiring and thus taking responsibility after the second preliminary round exit at a World Cup in a row.

"But the problems of German football are not solved with the departure of Bierhoff alone. There are too many theorists at the DFB who are far removed from football. You have to be close to the game again; in player training, but also in coaching.

"I hope that Matthias Sammer will work in the background and support Hans-Joachim Watzke [vice-chairman].

"Matthias is a child of football, he knows and loves it, and he is a critical spirit who also addresses unpleasant things.

"That was missing in the DFB for too long. That's certainly something that Oliver Bierhoff has been accused of. I often pointed this out to him, but criticism was not welcome in his environment.

"That's why I left the DFB advisory board years ago. I hope Watzke will re-establish a healthy culture of debate in the DFB with Sammer in the background.

"There has been too much harmony in the DFB in recent years. This has led to a standstill in many places. Hansi Flick will also benefit from more friction in his work.

"It's right to leave him in office. It's not just with a view to the European Championship, but he has the full confidence of the DFB to put our football back on the road to success."