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Friday February 20, 2009

German FA blast coach after consecutive defeats to England and Norway

BERLIN: Following consecutive home defeats, Germany coach Joachim Loew was criticised on Wednesday by German Football Federation (DFB) president Theo Zwanziger for the first time since taking charge.

“I am not content at the moment with the sporting achievements of the national team,” Zwanziger told German magazine Sport-Bild.

“It is now the task of Joachim Loew and his training staff to analyse exactly how the team could lose to England in Berlin and then Norway in Duesseldorf in succession.”

Loew’s side, minus a host of top stars, was beaten 2-1 at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium by an England team suffering from a huge injury list in November last year.

To make matters worse in their next international, a weakened Norway side then beat a full-strength Germany team 1-0 in Duesseldorf on Feb 11.

Both defeats were avoidable and die Mannschaft played with an unusual lack of urgency and structure - rarely seen since Loew succeeded Jurgen Klinsmann as Germany coach in July 2006.

Unhappy: Germany head coach Joachim Loew (second from right) speaks to his team during a training session for the friendly against Norway recently.

It was the first time Germany have lost consecutive home games since 1956 and it was also the first time the Germans have lost to Norway since 1936.

Germany now have World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein, in Leipzig on March 28, and against Wales, in Cardiff on April 1.

Although they top their group, the national side’s collective drop in form has sent alarm bells ringing here.

After captain Michael Ballack criticised Loew, when he accused the national coach of not showing senior players enough loyalty in an interview last October, there is a feeling Loew has lost respect.

Both Ballack and Torsten Frings criticised the coach, yet both played in the defeat by Norway and there is a feeling here last year’s public row has undermined Loew’s authority.

Zwanziger believes there is an attiude problem in the squad and it is important Germany get their form back for their next two games.

“It is an attitude problem, before the next two games it will be crucial that a good performance is coaxed out of the players,” said Zwanziger.

Loew himself admitted he was extremely disappointed with his squad after the Norway defeat and as Germany had previously not lost consecutive games for six years, the pressure is on the national coach and his squad to perform with South Africa 2010 approaching.

“The team was not ready to go to the limits (against Norway),” said Zwanziger.

“The sympathy levels for the national team will keep dropping unless results pick up.”

With the most expensive tickets for the Norway defeat costing 80 euros (US$100), Zwanziger said he had sympathy for Germany’s fans who deserve to see their stars at least put up a fight in defeat.

“I didn’t have to buy a ticket (for Duesseldorf), but I feel sorry for the fans who bought tickets and wanted to see a convincing Germany team,” he added.

“It makes me uncomfortable for the many young fans, who come into the stadium and want to see their stars play well, that they see a performance like the one against Norway,” said Zwanziger.

Loew has already tightened the reins on his squad of players by insisting the players come to Leipzig a day earlier than planned for a day of fitness testing before the qualifier against Liechtenstein.

“I am glad that we have a few more days with the players in March,” said Loew.

“We will work on a few things intensely and we will show a different side of our play in the qualification games.” — AFP

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