Berlin: Coach Joachim Loew has given Germany a boost ahead of their Fifa World Cup title defence by extending his contract with the world champions to 2022
Loew announced the news on Tuesday before unveiling his preliminary World Cup squad. He has been in charge for 12 years and in 2014 led Germany to their fourth World Cup title.
“This is a big responsibility to continue developing players,” the 58-year-old said after German Football Association President Reinhard Grindel said they had agreed to extend their current deal by two more years.
“To work with the best players in Germany, then develop them and to make them better, to form a team that sets the highest goals, this is what drives and still gives me joy.” Loew has been in charge for 160 matches, winning 106, more than any other Germany coach.
He started out as assistant to Juergen Klinsmann after only limited coaching experience in club football.
Loew took over after the 2006 World Cup in Germany and has led his country to at least the semi-finals in all of the five major tournaments for which he has been at the helm.
“We did not need long to get a conclusion,” Grindel said.
Germany included injured captain Manuel Neuer in their preliminary line-up, striker Nils Petersen was a surprise call-up, and Mario Goetze was left out altogether.
Neuer, who hasn’t played since September because of a hairline fracture in his left foot, was one of four goalkeepers to be selected as Loew gives him every chance of proving his fitness for the tournament in Russia.
“We’ve been in constant contact with Manuel. He’s now taking a full part in training in Munich. We want to observe him ourselves to form an impression and will be able to do that at the training camp,” Loew said of the side’s preparations in South Tirol, Italy, from May 23. “But you cannot go into such a tournament without match practice.”
Loew will need to present his final squad selection to FIFA by June 4.
Loew opted for Petersen over Bayern Munich forward Sandro Wagner, giving the Freiburg player his first call-up to the national team after an excellent season.
Petersen helped his club stay in the Bundesliga with 15 goals in 32 league appearances, eight of those as a substitute.
“He got 15 goals with a team that does not create many goal chances. He has always made a very good impression. And apart from that he is a very good substitute,” Loew said of Petersen.
Leipzig’s Timo Werner will be the first-choice forward in Russia.
Marco Reus was also selected, but Borussia Dortmund teammate Goetze was left out. Goetze scored the winning goal in the 2014 World Cup final.
“It wasn’t his best season. He wasn’t able to show his incredible quality. Personally, I’m very sorry for him,” Loew said of Goetze.
Germany will begin their World Cup defence with group games against Mexico, Sweden and South Korea.
—Agencies