Joachim Low's future as Germany coach will not be decided before next week, German FA (DFB) chief Reinhard Grindel has confirmed as the beaten title-holders returned to Frankfurt, Germany, less than 24 hours after their group-stage exit from the World Cup.
The DFB president announced "far-reaching changes" in German football and added he wants to synchronise them with the German league (DFL) after Bundesliga clubs also disappointed in the European club competitions over the past few years.
For the first time in their World Cup history, Germany were eliminated in the group stage, finishing bottom of the group after losing to Mexico and South Korea, having won one trophy, reached one final and two third-place finishes in the last four tournaments.
"I spoke with Joachim Low [on Wednesday] evening," Grindel told Sport Bild after arriving back from Russia. "We agreed to speak in the coming days about how we proceed."
Germany left their World Cup base in Moscow early on Thursday, and returned home at 3:09 p.m. local time, less than 24 hours after their kick-off against South Korea in Kazan.
"We've agreed that the sporting leadership will deliver a first analysis to the DFB leadership next week, and then I also expect that the Bundestrainer will comment on his future," Grindel told reporters waiting for the national team at Frankfurt airport.
The World Cup exit hits German football after a turbulent year at home, where Bayern Munich once again ran away with the Bundesliga title and were the only competitive German team in Champions League, with Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and Hoffenheim all falling at their first hurdle.
"We should not be doing things for the sake of things now, but rather get on the way the far-reaching changes we need now," Grindel said. "And it's smart to do that with Bundesliga and to consider together how we can strengthen the competitiveness of German football.
"This is not only an issue for the national team but also for Bundesliga clubs."
Germany general manager Oliver Bierhoff said they need to be "courageous" to tackle the changes: "We'll see that we get together again late last week."
Before the tournament, Low signed a contract extension through to 2022 and Grindel said coach Low's job was safe regardless of the final result against South Korea, but the two are now set for showdown talks.
"It was my responsibility to get the team into a World Cup form. It did not work out," Low said. "And we need a bit of time now and talks, and then we'll come up with answer."
Captain Manuel Neuer, the only player to address reporters, defended Low and said the team was well-prepared for the World Cup.
"We know that we, the players, are the protagonists here, and we did not bring it to the pitch."
The German Football League (DFL), meanwhile, on Thursday distanced themselves from an analysis published on -- and later withdrawn from -- their international website.
The article on the official website had listed five reasons for Germany's group-stage exit. It had criticised "curious squad selections" ahead of and during the tournament and it also picked up a rumour that the national team had been "a divided group" throughout the tournament.
In a statement released late on Thursday, the DFL distanced itself from the article and said that it "represented no official position" but was rather published by the editors of a subsidiary.