Germany’s Loew to stay on despite Euro disappointment

Bruce flattered to be linked with England job

This file photo taken on June 20, 2016 shows Germany’s head coach Joachim Loew attending a training session at the stadium Parc des Princes in Paris, France, on June 20, 2016 on the eve of the Euro 2016 football match between Nothern

Ireland and Germany. A(FP)

BERLIN, July 12, (RTRS): Germany’s Joachim Loew said he would stay on to lead the World Cup winners to their title defence in Russia in 2018 despite an initial hesitation on whether to continue after a disappointing semifinal defeat to France last week at the Euro 2016.

Loew, who has coached Germany for 10 years and to five straight semifinal appearances at World Cups and Euros, said in a statement on Tuesday he planned to continue, ending some speculation that the 56-year-old might step down.

“Despite our disappointment, the team didn’t disappoint,” said Loew, who was Juergen Klinsmann’s assistant coach for two years before taking over the reins in 2006.

“It was the youngest team in the tournament and I continue to see great potential,” added Loew, referring to his team’s average age of 25.4 years, which was next to England the youngest at the tournament. Italy had the oldest team with an average age of 29.4 years. “I’m sure that they’ll give us plenty of joy in the future and that’s why I remain enthusiastic about continuing to work with these players and accompany their developments going to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.”

Loew had triggered speculation that he might step down right after Germany lost to France 2-0 in the semi-final when he was asked about his future.

“I don’t know,” he told ZDF television just minutes after the final whistle. “It’ll take a while (to make a decision).”

Those non-committal comments prompted a wave of support for Loew and an opinion poll by the Emnid polling institute for Bild am Sonntag newspaper showed that 84 percent of Germans wanted the man they call “Jogi” (pronounced ‘Yogi’) to continue.

Also known as the “Bundestrainer”, Loew has led his team to at least the semi-finals in every tournament they have played in since he took over after the 2006 World Cup, where Germany under Klinsmann also reached the semi-final before losing to Italy.

Loew also led Germany to the 2014 World Cup title -- the country’s fourth after 1954, 1974 and 1990. Loew’s record stands at 137 matches with 90 wins and 23 defeats.

Germany’s World Cup defence starts on Sept 4 with a qualifying match against Norway.

Loew is one of the longest-serving national team coaches anywhere but ranks only third in Germany after 10 years at the helm. Sepp Herberger coached the national side for 20 years and Helmut Schoen served in the role for 12 years.

Hull City boss Steve Bruce has said he is flattered to be linked with the vacant England manager’s job, following the departure of Roy Hodgson.

Hodgson quit in the wake of England’s humiliating exit from the European Championship at the hands of Iceland and Bruce is one of several managers who have been linked with the post by the British media.

“It’s highly flattering and I’m honoured to be linked with it,” Bruce, who led Hull back into the Premier League after one season in the Championship (second-tier), told the local media.

“Whether or not it goes any further than that... It’s the pinnacle isn’t it? To manage your country, there’s no bigger job.

Bruce

15-minute spell in the first half when Cristiano Ronaldo twice left the pitch to receive treatment before tearfully being forced out of the game.

Portugal persisted without the threetime world player of the year to win its first major title. Portugal’s 1-0 victory in extra time reflected one of the early conclusions of UEFA’s technical observers: possession is no longer king. Retaining the ball with masterful passing, as Spain showcased during their title triumphs in 2008 and 2012, can prove inadequate when thwarted by dogged opponents.

It meant teams could be less ambitious, sit back and hope to pounce on the break, especially when 16 teams knew they would advance from the group stage.

How will Euro 2016 be remembered? Not for tactical innovation, nor for a breakthrough star. Antoine Griezmann was already the star of Atletico Madrid before being named the player of the tournament with six goals.

Long after the dour group-stage is forgotten, the legacy will be the fans — the aggressive and the boisterous behavior.

Russia left the tournament with a solitary point in the group stage but was at risk of being sent home in disgrace as punishment for its fans’ violence. England was also threatened with expulsion after hooligan elements in its fan base clashed with Russians around the opening game in Marseille.

Tear gas was deployed in southern France, a foretaste of police tactics to disperse some crowds right the way through to the final when there was an attempt by some supporters to force their way into the Paris fan zone. The great relief for authorities was the lack of any major security incident, given the tournament being played under the state of emergency that was introduced after extremist attacks in Paris last year.