Euro 2012: Joachim Loew pleased with Germany changes
Last updated on .From the section Euro 2012
Germany coach Joachim Loew praised his stand-in strikeforce after they swept past Greece and into the semi-finals of Euro 2012.
Loew took the bold step of leaving out Mario Gomez, Lukas Podolski and Thomas Mueller but saw Miroslav Klose and Marco Reus score in a 4-2 win.
"I had a feeling after three wins that we had to make some changes to breathe some life into the team," Loew said.
"The time was ripe to do something different. I think they did it well."
New Borussia Dortmund signing Reus was particularly impressive down the right, while veteran Klose scored his 17th goal in a major tournament to move a step closer to Gerd Muller's all-time goalscoring record.
Klose - who was born in Poland - now has 64 goals for his adopted nation, just four behind Muller.
"I was glad that I got that goal," said Klose, who had been restricted to a place on the bench for the three games in Group B, with Gomez taking the lone striking role.
"I was really happy to be given the chance to start.
"Our bench is very, very strong which makes us stand out. Anyone can come in and play, which is great for us."
Loew saw his new-look side dominate from the off, but they were wasteful in front of goal until captain Philipp Lahm fired them ahead.
"That was a class performance from the team to reach the semi-finals for the fourth tournament in a row," said Loew.
"We can be proud of the team.
"Greece is a curious team. They had one chance and scored two goals.
"But we didn't get nervous after 1-1, and the goals came."
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Let's hope that comes true tomorrow!
Joachim Loew and Jurgen Klinsmann before him, have instilled a culture and style which is quite simply fabulous to watch.
I doff my cap.
http://jedidiahgore.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/france-hoping-to-beat-spain-at-their.html
So England have done well in all 3 group games ? If out-passed.....out-thought......out-ran.....& totally outplayed is a sign of engerlund doing well then you don't have high expectations of how the game should be played or how bad your team actually are, you were outplayed by France, the mighty Sweden & Ukraine and your still full of arrogance thinking your very poor team will win it
http://jedidiahgore.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/france-hoping-to-beat-spain-at-their.html
http://jedidiahgore.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/france-hoping-to-beat-spain-at-their.html
Some have
> a pathological hatred of Germany, no matter how they play
> a view that anyone else on the continent isn't really much good either
> an opinion that England can beat anyone as long as they are lucky .
> some think G isn't too bad.
IMo the war ended 1945.
sure France's 23 match unbeaten run must mean something, but know, of course, they are "very average" as England finished ahead of them. Such a disrepectful attitude towards other nations.