Euro 2012: Joachim Loew pleased with Germany changes

Last updated on .From the section Euro 2012comments82

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."

Comments

Join the conversation

These comments are now closed.

82 comments

  • Germany are the best team in this tournament for me. But the best team doesn't always win. I think Spain are still great though, just can't see them winning a 3rd time in a row. Someone commented last night that England in 4 years will be better than Germany. I mean deluded doesn't begin to describe that.

  • Just in case the English have forgotten there is still a game to win tomorrow...

  • I wish us English wouldn't so readily hate the Germans - they play fantastic football, especially under Loew. The real team I hate is Italy - very defensive and constant spoiling tactics means they are the first team I hope to see eliminated from any tournament.

    Let's hope that comes true tomorrow!

  • Must agree - Germany are frighteningly good. No "luck" about any of those goals against Greece - absolutely clinical, focused and devastating finishing. If England can squeeze past Italy, then we'll need more than Spitfires, Hurricanes and Lancasters. This tiny Tournament is Germany's for the taking.

  • The BBC needs to get it's act together. Last night on the highlights you had Robbie Savage and Steve Staunton criticising Schweinsteiger for constantly misplaced passes, yet the website is quoting some football metrics system lauding Schweinsteiger and Özil as the "key cogs in the German machine", citing Schweinsteiger as having had a 92% pass completion rate. Make your minds up please.

  • As a grumpy old England fan I have endured some fantastic German teams for far too long ! I have to admit to supporting whoever they were playing against. But the years have mellowed my views and now I can only applaud their achievements.

    Joachim Loew and Jurgen Klinsmann before him, have instilled a culture and style which is quite simply fabulous to watch.

    I doff my cap.

  • Prrof again that football is a game played between 22 men for 90 minutes where at the end Germany win.... England against Italy? Possible but unlikely, France against Spain, please....

  • Germany look so strong. To be able to leave out three players of the calibre of Podolski, Gomez and Mueller and still win so convincingly is ominous for anyone who is hoping to beat them. France and Spain will be very hopeful of winning the tournament and tonight's match is absolutely massive.
    http://jedidiahgore.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/france-hoping-to-beat-spain-at-their.html

  • I dinnae ken why he sassinachs are getting all "Leeds United" , about a re match with the Germans , coz it's irrelevant. Don't waste your time practising penalties Woy , coz the Italians will K.O. your negative mob in 90 mins .At least Gazza was entertaining , this lot are as dull as dishwater. " They're coming home , they're coming home "

  • Only a few hours now until the mighty minnows England get sent home from the euros after being taught how to pass the ball and keep possession by an Italian side that is probably the worst in years, England wont be able to keep the ball and have decent possession against Italy....imagine how Spain or Germany would embarrass you if got a lucky goal against Italy and camped in your box.

  • Funkymc! - Why shouldn't England big up their national team? I don't understand why Scotland has such an issue with this and personally I feel embarrassed living amongst such a nation of such bitter people, who's only joy is hoping our Southern neighbours get beat! Pathetic! At least England are there on merit. Where is our national team?

  • 26. MaRsHy
    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

  • Germany are looking very strong and favorites for the tournie. Dont write off Spain as they can turn on the style anytime. Germany are beatable as all sides are but assuming we do actually beat Italy (I have my doubts) then we have to play the same way Chelsea did against Barca. If we need to play like that to win a game then I hope we get well beaten.

  • 15. England have a good chance of beating Italy. The Germans are very good but England could beat them with a bit of luck. Milner covers lots of ground and as England are not as strong as some of the other teams they need to put pressure on their opponents. Terry, Rooney and Cole are all world-class.
    http://jedidiahgore.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/france-hoping-to-beat-spain-at-their.html

  • Schweinsteiger is a key cog in the German machine and that is why when he misplaces passes it costs them dearly. They have a very excellent side but can be beaten. Portugal could have done in their first game if they hadn't started so defensively.

    http://jedidiahgore.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/france-hoping-to-beat-spain-at-their.html

  • In my opinion nobody in Euro 2012 have set the world on fire. Yes Germany are probably the best team in the tournament but they struggled to beat Portugal, weren't amazing against the Netherlands or Denmark and beat a Greece team who should never have got that far in the first place.

  • Germany are the best team of the tournament so far. They have played consistently very good in each of their matches and are getting better and better. Who ever wins in the England v Italy match will have to play at their very best to get any chance of beating the unbeatable Germans

  • @South Pacific, I do not think it is quite as bad as you make out. There are quite a lot of very positive comments regarding the German team, which you would never have seen even 5 years ago. Klinsmann and Loew took a lot of hard decisions before the 2006 WC and they are now paying off. England need to follow their example...........

  • As one living a couple of thousands km away and has seen all quarter finals and earlier games so far, I am amazed what I read here.
    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.

  • 75
    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.

Top Stories