Following the final match of the season, in the end convincing 7-0 victory over Gibraltar, Joachim Löw responded to questions by the media. DFB.de was on site to record his statements.
Question: Mr. Löw, after a difficult first half, your team still managed a 7-0 victory over Gibraltar. What is your verdict on the game?
Joachim
Löw: In the first half we squandered a lot of chances, which appears to be a reoccurring theme for us. The 1-0 lead at half time was not satisfactory based on our attacking potential. We made life difficult on ourselves by not taking the chances. The second half was much better; we were more focused and consistent. In the end the result was appropriate.
Question: It was the last game of the season and the first season after winning the World Cup. How satisfied are you overall?
Löw: It was a difficult year, but that was to be expected. Several players had injury problems or struggled for form, but we always knew that we could be facing these types of issues. We weren’t as confident as in previous years. But I'm convinced that the team will be back on track after they take a break.
Question: Did you have to raise your voice at half time?
Löw: Yes, I had to put across my point. But there was only one thing that needed discussing – clinical finishing. I wasn’t able to accuse any player of a lack of dedication. But the chances that we left out, were bordering arrogance. That's why I told my players that I wanted to see some goals in the second half.
Question: The timing of this encounter was not ideal, as many players were missing. Were you still able to gather new insights?
Following the final match of the season, in the end convincing 7-0 victory over Gibraltar, Joachim Löw responded to questions by the media. DFB.de was on site to record his statements.
Question: Mr. Löw, after a difficult first half, your team still managed a 7-0 victory over Gibraltar. What is your verdict on the game?
Joachim
Löw: In the first half we squandered a lot of chances, which appears to be a reoccurring theme for us. The 1-0 lead at half time was not satisfactory based on our attacking potential. We made life difficult on ourselves by not taking the chances. The second half was much better; we were more focused and consistent. In the end the result was appropriate.
Question: It was the last game of the season and the first season after winning the World Cup. How satisfied are you overall?
Löw: It was a difficult year, but that was to be expected. Several players had injury problems or struggled for form, but we always knew that we could be facing these types of issues. We weren’t as confident as in previous years. But I'm convinced that the team will be back on track after they take a break.
Question: Did you have to raise your voice at half time?
Löw: Yes, I had to put across my point. But there was only one thing that needed discussing – clinical finishing. I wasn’t able to accuse any player of a lack of dedication. But the chances that we left out, were bordering arrogance. That's why I told my players that I wanted to see some goals in the second half.
Question: The timing of this encounter was not ideal, as many players were missing. Were you still able to gather new insights?
Löw: The game, and when it’s played, does not bother us. There were a few players who were able to show their qualities. Patrick Herrmann showed a strong performance in the first half against the United States and Antonio Rüdiger had a good game in his first appearance at centre back. I was very pleased with the performance of Jonas Hector in both games. He’s very to-the point, humble, makes few mistakes and takes on tactical instructions well.
Question: You announced an upheaval to take place in the national team. When will it happen?
Löw: We have to wait and see when the right time is for each individual player. We are not under pressure at the moment to make final decisions. That will happen before the EURO. But our intentions are clear: we want to introduce more young players to our team.
Question: Would a good performance at the U21 European Championship boost a player's chances to get nominated to the first team?
Löw: We have to wait and see how they perform at the EUROs and beyond. In 2009 the U21 side played a strong European Championship and in the 2010 World Cup six of these players were in the senior team. That shows that we are able to install young players into our team. Step by step of course. We have a medium-term view on the situation; there are several players above 30 years of age in the squad.
