Loew lashes sloppy Germany after loss

– Joachim Loew slammed “sloppy” Germany as the world champions crashed to a 2-1 defeat by Austria on Manuel Neuer’s comeback to leave them winless in their last five games.

“If we play like that in Russia, then we have no chance,” fumed Germany head coach Loew in Klagenfurt on Saturday.

Less than a fortnight before the World Cup kicks off in Russia, Germany have now suffered backto-back defeats after also sliding to a 1-0 loss to Brazil in Berlin in March.

The good news is that Bayern Munich goalkeeper Neuer (right) looks set to go to the World Cup, having proved his fitness despite eight months out due to injury.

However, when the German de- fence buckled in the second half, Neuer was powerless to stop Martin Hinteregger and Alessandro Schoepf scoring after Mesut Ozil had given them an early lead.

“That was a good comeback from Manuel Neuer after so long out,” said Loew. “He made one or two outstanding saves, but the defeat annoys me. We didn’t put into practice what we had planned.”

Loew left out World Cup winners Thomas Mueller, Toni Kroos, Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng, but the Germans only controlled the rain-delayed game for the first half an hour.

Loew declined to comment when a poll showed most fans would rather see Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen than Neuer play at the World Cup.

Both Neuer and Ter Stegen are set to fly to Russia.

Despite missing 259 days with a fractured foot, Neuer looked sharp but Loew intimated he would see how his problematic left foot reacts when Germany play Saudi Arabia in Leverkusen on Friday. – AFP