Loew hopes Germans ride wave of success against Argentina
Friday, 2 July 2010
ERASMIA, July1 (AFP): Coach Joachim Loew hopes Germany will ride the wave of youthful confidence from their 4-1 hammering of England to take them past Argentina in Saturday's World Cup quarter-final.
Many of his young side have only recently graduated from Germany's Under-21 team which won last June's European Championships, and while his team has an average age of just under 25 years, they are eager to take on Diego Maradona's Argentina.
"There is a very positive feeling in the team. We have gained a lot of confidence from the victory against England," said Loew ahead of Saturday's clash in Cape Town.
"A lot of the younger players became European Under-21 champions and it has given them a lot of confidence for a tournament like this."
Loew said Germany will fly to Cape Town Thursday evening, rather than the day before the game, to give their players more time to adjust to their surroundings.
Germany beat Argentina 4-2 on penalties when the teams met at the same stage of the last World Cup, but Loew has yet to nominate the five players who could take spot-kicks this time.
"We have already practiced penalties, each player took two," said Loew.
"But you can never recreate the pressure or the nervous tension.
"You don't know who will still be on the pitch after 120 minutes of football, injuries can change everything, so we will only decide that after extra-time has been played."
Although his side hammered both Australia and England on the way to the quarter-finals, Loew knows Maradona's Argentina will be step up in class, but the Germany coach says he has found weaknesses to exploit.
"They have great qualities. For me, they are one of the favorites for this tournament," said Loew.
"They have a lot of experience, they have an impressive attack and not just through Lionel Messi alone.
"We have found weaknesses in their side, but I will keep that information for my players."
Argentina have won all four of their games at this World Cup and Loew says under Maradona they are playing with supreme confidence.
"Maradona was a phenomenon and an idol," said Loew. "His team plays with a lot of self-confidence and pride, they will be hard to beat.
Many of his young side have only recently graduated from Germany's Under-21 team which won last June's European Championships, and while his team has an average age of just under 25 years, they are eager to take on Diego Maradona's Argentina.
"There is a very positive feeling in the team. We have gained a lot of confidence from the victory against England," said Loew ahead of Saturday's clash in Cape Town.
"A lot of the younger players became European Under-21 champions and it has given them a lot of confidence for a tournament like this."
Loew said Germany will fly to Cape Town Thursday evening, rather than the day before the game, to give their players more time to adjust to their surroundings.
Germany beat Argentina 4-2 on penalties when the teams met at the same stage of the last World Cup, but Loew has yet to nominate the five players who could take spot-kicks this time.
"We have already practiced penalties, each player took two," said Loew.
"But you can never recreate the pressure or the nervous tension.
"You don't know who will still be on the pitch after 120 minutes of football, injuries can change everything, so we will only decide that after extra-time has been played."
Although his side hammered both Australia and England on the way to the quarter-finals, Loew knows Maradona's Argentina will be step up in class, but the Germany coach says he has found weaknesses to exploit.
"They have great qualities. For me, they are one of the favorites for this tournament," said Loew.
"They have a lot of experience, they have an impressive attack and not just through Lionel Messi alone.
"We have found weaknesses in their side, but I will keep that information for my players."
Argentina have won all four of their games at this World Cup and Loew says under Maradona they are playing with supreme confidence.
"Maradona was a phenomenon and an idol," said Loew. "His team plays with a lot of self-confidence and pride, they will be hard to beat.