Loew delight at historic 100-wins milestone
SOCHI, Russia: Joachim Loew was proud to become the first head coach to achieve 100 international wins as Sunday’s 3-1 victory over Cameroon put Germany into the Confederations Cup semi-finals.
The victory in Loew’s 150th match in charge also maintained his impressive record of reaching at least the semi-finals of every tournament over the last decade.
“Yes, of course, I am very happy. It’s a nice figure,” said Loew who succeeded Jurgen Klinsmann as national coach in August 2006.
“It reminds me of those people who have been with me from the beginning like ( current team manager) Oliver Bierhoff and ( goalkeeping coach) Andreas Koepke.”
“Hansi Flick ( Loew’s assistant when Germany won the 2014 World Cup) also played a role and I need to thank them all.
“Also the players, many of whom aren’t here today, must be thanked for their passion, attitude and skills, which allowed us to chalk up those victories.”
He added: “There have been ups and downs, we often got to semifinals, but never made it but the win in the Maracana (2014 World Cup final) was a crowning moment.”
Loew said he is relishing the challenge of facing Mexico on Thursday for a place in next Sunday’s Confederations Cup final in St Petersburg.
It reminds me of those people who have been with me from the beginning like (current team manager) Oliver Bierhoff and (goalkeeping coach) Andreas Koepke.
“Mexico is going to be a tough game, they are a very f lexible team with very good players,” said Loew.
“We don’t often play central American sides, so that will be interesting for us, but we need to be on our guard.”
On Sunday, Timo Werner netted twice in the win over 10- man Cameroon.
Af ter Germany’s Kerem Demirbay opened the scoring, Werner struck either side of Vincent Aboubakar’s consolation effort on 78 minutes.
Cameroon had Ernest Mabouka sent of f on 64 minutes for a dangerous tackle on Liverpool’s Emre Can after referee Wilmar Roldan had initially dismissed Sebastien Siani before the video assistant referee rectified his error. The victory in Sochi meant Germany finished top of Group B ahead of runners- up Chile, who drew 1-1 with Australia in Moscow.
Chi le wil l face European champions Portugal in Kazan on Wednesday in the first semi-final. — AFP
Joachim Loew, Germany manager