The Germany national team successfully overcame their first challenge of EURO 2016, with a 2-0 win on Sunday against Ukraine. Speaking in an interview after the game, Joachim Löw spoke about his team, plus Bastian Schweinsteiger's brief appearance and goal.
Question: Mr. Löw, 2:0 in your opening match of EURO 2016 against Ukraine. Are you pleased?
Joachim Löw: We got a lot better as the game went on. Therefore, I am extremely pleased with the result and with the match.
Question: But there were a couple of problems in defence...
Löw: It got a bit dangerous for us at times, but overall we dealt with everything quite well. In the first half we had a couple of problems going forward, we lost the ball a few times and were susceptible to being hit on the break. The wingers improved as the game went on, and Mustafi and Boateng won a lot of challenges.
Question: What did you think of Jerome Boateng’s spectacular save off the line in the 36th minute?
Löw: It’s really good, having Jerome as your defensive partner. You know that he will defuse dangerous situations. It was obviously not a goal.
Question: Bastian Schweinsteiger came on in the 90th minute and made it 2-0. What was going through your head at that moment?
Löw: It wasn’t part of the plan for Schweinsteiger to be that far up the pitch. But I am delighted that after all his hard work over the past few weeks, he was able to make such a comeback and score the decisive second goal. That will really give him and the rest of the team a lift. He is so important because of his personality and his experience, and he can really provide a team with a lot. A Bastian Schweinsteiger is worth its weight in gold.
Question: Because he could not play from the start, you named Manuel Neuer as captain. Why him and not Sami Khedira?
Löw: Manuel Neuer is the World Goalkeeper of the Year. I had a conversation with both players. Both are leaders on the pitch. I could have also picked Sami, because he fulfils the criteria just as much. For me, that doesn’t play a very decisive role.
Question: The Poles also won 1-0 against Northern Ireland. How are you going into this match on Thursday?
Löw: It will be a very decisive match. Poland have a strong team. We played them twice in qualification and we lost in the away game. Their style of play is quite similar to Ukraine. That is definitely going to be a tough battle as well.
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The Germany national team successfully overcame their first challenge of EURO 2016, with a 2-0 win on Sunday against Ukraine. Speaking in an interview after the game, Joachim Löw spoke about his team, plus Bastian Schweinsteiger's brief appearance and goal.
Question: Mr. Löw, 2:0 in your opening match of EURO 2016 against Ukraine. Are you pleased?
Joachim Löw: We got a lot better as the game went on. Therefore, I am extremely pleased with the result and with the match.
Question: But there were a couple of problems in defence...
Löw: It got a bit dangerous for us at times, but overall we dealt with everything quite well. In the first half we had a couple of problems going forward, we lost the ball a few times and were susceptible to being hit on the break. The wingers improved as the game went on, and Mustafi and Boateng won a lot of challenges.
Question: What did you think of Jerome Boateng’s spectacular save off the line in the 36th minute?
Löw: It’s really good, having Jerome as your defensive partner. You know that he will defuse dangerous situations. It was obviously not a goal.
Question: Bastian Schweinsteiger came on in the 90th minute and made it 2-0. What was going through your head at that moment?
Löw: It wasn’t part of the plan for Schweinsteiger to be that far up the pitch. But I am delighted that after all his hard work over the past few weeks, he was able to make such a comeback and score the decisive second goal. That will really give him and the rest of the team a lift. He is so important because of his personality and his experience, and he can really provide a team with a lot. A Bastian Schweinsteiger is worth its weight in gold.
Question: Because he could not play from the start, you named Manuel Neuer as captain. Why him and not Sami Khedira?
Löw: Manuel Neuer is the World Goalkeeper of the Year. I had a conversation with both players. Both are leaders on the pitch. I could have also picked Sami, because he fulfils the criteria just as much. For me, that doesn’t play a very decisive role.
Question: The Poles also won 1-0 against Northern Ireland. How are you going into this match on Thursday?
Löw: It will be a very decisive match. Poland have a strong team. We played them twice in qualification and we lost in the away game. Their style of play is quite similar to Ukraine. That is definitely going to be a tough battle as well.
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