Related News
Loew running out of time to rebuild Germany before Euro 2020 finals
Print Edition
Germany has secured qualification for Euro 2020, but coach Joachim Loew is running out of time to mould his fledgling team into a title contender before next June’s finals.
Despite dominating possession in Moenchengladbach on Saturday, Loew’s young team struggled against minnow Belarus before two Toni Kroos goals sealed a 4-0 win which confirmed its Euro 2020 qualification.
As magazine Kicker pointed out, the victory highlighted the “many obvious sites” under reconstruction.
By Loew’s pre-match admission, “many players still need a few more years to develop”, yet the Euro finals start in seven months.
The Germans and Dutch have now qualified from Group C but tomorrow’s final game against Northern Ireland in Frankfurt is far from meaningless for Loew.
A victory will put Germany, which won the last of its three European titles in 1996, in the pot of eight group winners when the draw for the finals is made in Bucharest on November 30.
“Now we have a chance to win this group, it’s our goal to win on Tuesday and end up top,” said Loew.
“I think I’ll make one or two changes, one or two players who didn’t play (against Belarus) will get a chance.”
A deft back-heeled flick into the Belarus net by center-back Matthias Ginter, a Leon Goretzka strike into the bottom corner and two goals by Toni Kroos sealed Saturday’s win.
However, captain and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer twice came to the rescue, parrying a Igor Stasevich shot, then producing a fine save to deny the Belarus striker’s late penalty try.
“That was one of four games until the squad for the European Championships is announced, so it was important that we showed the character that we need, and want to see, at next year’s tournament,” was Loew’s verdict.
Loew knows there’s still a lot to work to be done if Germany is to challenge for the European title at the finals from June 12 to July 12. “In some phases we allowed one or two chances too many,” he admitted.
After one of his best displays for Germany, Kroos echoed Loew’s comments that “at the moment I don’t include us among the favorites for the European title.”
The hosts’ finishing often let them down at Borussia Park.
Top teams, such as Belgium, world champion France, England, Spain or the Netherlands, all currently ranked above it, would have not allowed Germany 31 shots on goal.
At the back, Ginter was outstanding, but fellow defenders Nico Schulz and Robin Koch looked unsure on occasion against a side ranked 86 places below the Germans.
Koch clumsily gave away the second-half penalty on Pavel Nekhaychik before Neuer spared the blushes by saving Stasevich’s spot kick.
After tomorrow’s home game, the Germans have just two matches in March — against as yet unconfirmed opponents — before Loew must name his squad for the Euro 2020 finals, which start in Rome on June 12.
“This is very little time in this all too sluggish rejuvenation process,” moaned Kicker.
The debacle at last year’s World Cup, when Germany finished last in its group, badly tarnished Loew’s golden reputation in Germany, which peaked in winning the 2014 World Cup.
Many fans remain disgruntled by last summer’s woeful performances in Russia, reflected in disappointing ticket sales in both Moenchengladbach and Frankfurt, where Germany face Northern Ireland tomorrow.
More than 10,000 seats remained vacant on Saturday, “a sight that must give the German FA’ stop officials food for thought”, pointed out Kicker.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
