Revenge will be in the air when Germany travel to Milan on Friday 15 November for a friendly international against Italy. The DFB team booked their place at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil with a 3-0 victory at home to Ireland on Friday. With one round of matches remaining, Germany lead European qualifying Group C on 25 points, and can no longer be caught by second-placed Sweden. In Group B, Italy were already confirmed as winners after eight of the 10 matches. As a result, neither Germany nor Italy are involved in the play-offs between the eight best runners-up, scheduled for 15 to 19 November.
Coach Löw regards the meeting with the Italians as valuable for a number of reasons. "We always want to be playing teams from the world elite. Challenges at the highest level are good for our development." Löw and his men have a score to settle with the Italians too: at EURO 2012 in Poland and Ukraine, Germany were knocked out at the semi-final stage by Italy, as two goals from Mario Balotelli led to a 2-1 defeat in Warsaw and the end of Germany's trophy ambitions.
Löw: "We're very much looking forward to the match"
"We don’t think about that match anymore," said Löw. "But obviously, games between Germany and Italy are always very special due to the history of the fixture, and there's a real edge when two of the great footballing nations cross swords. We’re very much looking forward to the match."
The clash with the Squadra Azzurra also represents a milestone for Löw, as he will take charge of the national team for the 100th time as head coach. His record so far reads 67 wins, 16 draws and 15 defeats from 98 matches.
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Revenge will be in the air when Germany travel to Milan on Friday 15 November for a friendly international against Italy. The DFB team booked their place at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil with a 3-0 victory at home to Ireland on Friday. With one round of matches remaining, Germany lead European qualifying Group C on 25 points, and can no longer be caught by second-placed Sweden. In Group B, Italy were already confirmed as winners after eight of the 10 matches. As a result, neither Germany nor Italy are involved in the play-offs between the eight best runners-up, scheduled for 15 to 19 November.
Coach Löw regards the meeting with the Italians as valuable for a number of reasons. "We always want to be playing teams from the world elite. Challenges at the highest level are good for our development." Löw and his men have a score to settle with the Italians too: at EURO 2012 in Poland and Ukraine, Germany were knocked out at the semi-final stage by Italy, as two goals from Mario Balotelli led to a 2-1 defeat in Warsaw and the end of Germany's trophy ambitions.
Löw: "We're very much looking forward to the match"
"We don’t think about that match anymore," said Löw. "But obviously, games between Germany and Italy are always very special due to the history of the fixture, and there's a real edge when two of the great footballing nations cross swords. We’re very much looking forward to the match."
The clash with the Squadra Azzurra also represents a milestone for Löw, as he will take charge of the national team for the 100th time as head coach. His record so far reads 67 wins, 16 draws and 15 defeats from 98 matches.
