German press hammer Loew after Dutch mauling

The German press turned on Joachim Loew after the hammering by the Netherlands left the future of Germany’s head coach in doubt with world champions France looming on Tuesday.

“Not at the moment,” Loew replied in the post match press conference when asked if he can still decide his future following the 3-0 drubbing - Germany’s heaviest defeat to the Dutch.

“That was a brutal and disappointing defeat, especially as we had the game under control in the first 30 minutes,” said Loew, whose contract runs until 2022.

“At the moment, you can literally feel that we do not have the selfconfidence that we used to have.”

If Loew’s side loses to world champions France in Paris on Tuesday, it will mean a record sixth defeat for Germany in a calender year, which Loew can ill afford.

Having steered Germany to the 2014 World Cup title, Loew was irritated when asked if the heavy defeat was his 168th — and final — international.

“For me, or what?” he replied, flustered, with his 12-year reign in peril.

“We need to move on quickly (to the next question), I am the wrong person to talk to about that.”

He only signed a new contract with the German Football Association (DFB) in May until the next World Cup, yet unless results improve, it is doubtful he will see it through.

Back home, Germany’s main newspapers were brutal with the head coach.

“Bottom marks for Loew! Irritation after questions over his future as a national coach,” was the verdict of Germany’s top-selling daily Bild.

Football magazine Kicker pointed out that despite Loew’s promises of a fresh start, little has changed.

“New start? Loew’s team are continuing the World Cup story.

“After the 3-0 debacle, the German team is fighting relegation.

“This is not a snapshot, but the logical consequence after a series of mistakes.”