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| Germany’s Joachim Löw warns against underestimating Algeria | Germany’s Joachim Löw warns against underestimating Algeria |
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| Joachim Löw says now is the time for his Germany side to show their true value while warning against underestimating their last-16 opponents Algeria. With sides such as Spain, Italy, Portugal and England eliminated in the group stages, Löw feels his side have a real opportunity of going all the way to the World Cup final, but their first hurdle in the knockout stages is not to be taken lightly. | |
| “Personally, I cannot remember a group stage in which so many of the favourites were knocked out,” he said at a press conference. “But tournaments are marathons, not a 100-metre sprint. Many nations in the past have won their first three games, and then lost their fourth. We’ve seen it all before. A team’s got to be able to raise their game all the time. If you can manage that, then that’s a masterstroke.” | |
| Germany are set to do that with Löw admitting there is still plenty of margin for improvement. “There’s been lots of light, but also plenty of shadows; some good things, but also things which didn’t work,” he said. “We won our group, which was our primary objective, so we are happy, but we are also self-critical and we know that we can play better. “We’ve not reached our limit yet, and now the knockout phase begins, the decisive games are here.” | Germany are set to do that with Löw admitting there is still plenty of margin for improvement. “There’s been lots of light, but also plenty of shadows; some good things, but also things which didn’t work,” he said. “We won our group, which was our primary objective, so we are happy, but we are also self-critical and we know that we can play better. “We’ve not reached our limit yet, and now the knockout phase begins, the decisive games are here.” |
| First up are Algeria, who have revenge on their mind for the so-called no-aggression pact between Germany and Austria in 1982 which resulted in their elimination. “If anybody thinks or believes – and I think this is a feeling among the general public – that Algeria are easy opponents and that we can already start thinking of the next round, then they’re making a huge mistake,” Löw warned. | First up are Algeria, who have revenge on their mind for the so-called no-aggression pact between Germany and Austria in 1982 which resulted in their elimination. “If anybody thinks or believes – and I think this is a feeling among the general public – that Algeria are easy opponents and that we can already start thinking of the next round, then they’re making a huge mistake,” Löw warned. |
| “We must remain focused and on our toes because any complacency will be punished. I took a look at Algeria yesterday for an hour and I know we’re up against a very compact side who run a lot and are aggressive. I’ve rarely seen a team defend so vehemently, but still attack with purpose. Their whole country is euphoric, so we’re up against strong opponents.” | “We must remain focused and on our toes because any complacency will be punished. I took a look at Algeria yesterday for an hour and I know we’re up against a very compact side who run a lot and are aggressive. I’ve rarely seen a team defend so vehemently, but still attack with purpose. Their whole country is euphoric, so we’re up against strong opponents.” |
| That euphoria is also rooted in that 1982 Gijón match which Löw insists means nothing to his players, even if it “may be an additional motivation” for Algeria. “When I hear people talking about revenge, it irritates me,” he said. “Apart from maybe [Miroslav] Klose or [Roman] Weidenfeller, none of our players were even born then so they have no idea what happened. For our players, it’s not an issue.” | That euphoria is also rooted in that 1982 Gijón match which Löw insists means nothing to his players, even if it “may be an additional motivation” for Algeria. “When I hear people talking about revenge, it irritates me,” he said. “Apart from maybe [Miroslav] Klose or [Roman] Weidenfeller, none of our players were even born then so they have no idea what happened. For our players, it’s not an issue.” |
| Löw said that the Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski will not feature on Monday due to a muscular problem, but that he would be available for selection again “for our next game – should we get through”. Jérôme Boateng was also treading lightly in training, but he will be available, Löw said. | Löw said that the Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski will not feature on Monday due to a muscular problem, but that he would be available for selection again “for our next game – should we get through”. Jérôme Boateng was also treading lightly in training, but he will be available, Löw said. |
| So the stage is set for a grand show in Porto Alegre’s Estádio Beira-Rio, with the winner’s reward a quarter-final against France or Nigeria. Though satisfied with Germany’s performance against the United States, Löw signalled a need to tighten up their play. He criticised the finishing and said they were also careless in the match’s later stages. | |
| “We lost the ball at the end of the match unnecessarily and that’s really dangerous – other teams take advantage of that,” Löw said. “We could have had two or three more goals if we had played with a bit more finishing concentration.” |