Embattled Loew to stay on as Germany coach for Euros
Joachim Loew will remain in charge of Germany for next year's delayed European Championship despite a series of poor recent results, the German Football Federation (DFB) announced Monday.
"The presidential committee of the DFB decided unanimously this Monday during a teleconference, to continue with coach Joachim Loew on the difficult path of renewal started in March 2019," it said in a statement.
Loew, 60, has been in charge of the Germany team since taking over from Jurgen Klinsmann following the 2006 World Cup and led the nation to a fourth world title, and first since reunification, in Brazil in 2014. However, Germany are in crisis following a 6-0 defeat to Spain on Nov. 17 and recent draws with Switzerland, twice, and Turkey.
The recent hammering by Spain, Germany's heaviest loss in 89 years, capped a poor three-year spell, which included an embarrassing group-stage exit at the 2018 World Cup in Russia after which the DFB gave Loew their backing.
After 5 months and 3 friendlies, UAE fires coach Pinto
The UAE on Monday dismissed Colombian Jorge Luis Pinto as coach, five months after his appointment and before the resumption of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup.
Pinto, a 67-year-old Colombian who led Costa Rica to the quarterfinals of the 2014 World Cup, was the UAE's fourth coach since January 2019. He was hired in June on a contract until 2022. "After long meetings with coach Pinto, we agreed that it was difficult to continue our relationship and we decided to terminate the contract," said the head of the Emirates national teams committee, Youssef Hussein.
"The replacement coach will be announced soon," Hussein told a press conference, adding that the new coach will be chosen from three people who have worked in the local league. Under Pinto, the Emirates played three friendlies, beating Tajikistan with difficulty (3-2) and losing to Uzbekistan (2-1) and, most recently, Bahrain (3-1).
"It was difficult to carry out my mission with the national team for several reasons, including a difference of views," said Pinto. He added that the COVID-19 pandemic complicated his work. "I had big dreams of reaching the World Cup with the Emirates, and I hope it will happen with another coach," said Pinto.
Pinto succeeded the Serbian Ivan Jovanovic, who was in the job from December 2019 to April 2020, before being dismissed without having played any matches. Alberto Zaccheroni, who led AC Milan to a Serie A title in 1999 and won the Asian Cup with Japan, quit in January 2019 after leading UAE to the semifinals of the Asian Cup.