With the disappointment of the Euro 2008 final loss still fresh in
his mind, German national team trainer Joachim Low has turned his thoughts
very quickly to qualification for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Bundestrainer Jogi Low has outlined his thoughts on the
goalkeeping question, a possible new tactical line-up, the mood following
the European Championships and the challenge of Russia in the upcoming
qualifiers.
Looking back on the summer's Euro 2008 finals Low said: 'Our team showed
a lot of positives'. Following the 1-0 loss to Spain in the final in Vienna,
Low admitted that the better side had won.
Despite that Low explained that: 'In the past two or three years, we have
made superb developments.'
This development is by no means at an end Low stressed. He believes it
is a huge plus that young players such as Lukas Podolski, Bastian Schweinsteiger
Philipp Lahm and Per Mertesacker have already reached 50 caps at their
young ages.
'They haven't reached their peak of performance' Low said. He added the
likes of Marcell Jansen and Mario Gomez to that list, while not ruling
out a few more young up-and-coming stars for 2010.
The trainer also believes that Germany will step up to the challenge of
qualifying for the next World Cup even though they have been drawn in
the same group as the increasingly impressive Russia.
Germany play the Russians at home in Dortmund on 11 October, whereas they
travel to Russia 12 months later on 10 October 2009.
'Everybody saw during the European Championships how good the Russians
are' Low explained. 'That was good, because before the Euros everyone
was saying we had an easy draw.'
Alongside the Euro 2008 semi-finalists, Germany will face Finland, Wales,
Azerbaijan, and Liechtenstein. The group winners will go through automatically
whereas the eight best runners up will enter a play-off.
'We are convinced that we will master the qualification for the World
Cup' Low vowed.
The mood in the camp will need improving he said referring to the small
dispute between captain Michael Ballack and manager Oliver Bierhoff following
the loss to Spain in the final.
'There is always tension' Low admitted, 'But there is no drama and no
loss of discipline. It as pure emotion, both have shaken hands and it's
all okay.'
The question as to who will be the number one goalkeeper is one that still
needs an answer. 38 year old Jens Lehmann is expected to stand down as
the first choice keeper and concentrate on his new club Stuttgart.
'Of course at a certain point in time there is going to be a generation
change. But a decision will be met first of all after talking to Jens.'
Germany seemingly has a plethora of talented keepers to choose from with
Schalke's Manuel Neuer, and Leverkusen's Rene Adler the two prominent
candidates. Timo Hildebrand, Tim Wiese, Michael Rensing, and Robert Enke
will also be hoping their names remain in the frame.
Regarding tactics, Low is refusing to rule out a change from his trusted
4-4-2. In the future the tactical line-up will be adapted from game to
game.
'I have not changed my basic philosophy within the past four weeks. I
will play with two strikers if they are in form. In Austria and Switzerland
that wasn't always the case.'
