SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: WORLD CUP 2010: Germany likely to start with Cacau for suspended Klose

Record ID: 452570

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: WORLD CUP 2010: Germany likely to start with Cacau for suspended Klose
  • Date: 23rd June 2010
  • Summary: PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 22, 2010) (REUTERS) ARRIVAL OF GERMAN COACH JOACHIM LOEW TO NEWS CONFERENCE IN LOFTUS VERSFELD STADIUM CAMERAMAN GERMAN COACH JOACHIM LOEW AT NEWS CONFERENCE JABULANI-FOOTBALL (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN COACH JOACHIM LOEW SAYING: "At the moment I tend towards having Cacau play from the beginning, but also Mario Gomez and Stefan Kiessling, are also pushing to be able to play during the training. I will have to see, but otherwise I am thinking of changing the one or the other position, that is wholly possible." GERMAN COACH JOACHIM LOEW SPEAKING AT NEWS CONFERENCE, VARIOUS CAMERAS (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN COACH JOACHIM LOEW SAYING: "Matches involving the national team are always a big pleasure, but obviously there are also differences, like the games in the big competitions in 2006 or at the Confederations Cup, where the emotions are running high and where the whole nation and the whole world is looking upon a specific match, then I am under a certain pressure, which I take as positive tension. I don´t feel it as a pressure, I like challenges. Tomorrow is a situation like this, but I had this several times in my career as a trainer. I am looking forward to this game more than being afraid of it." JOURNALISTS, VARIOUS EXTERIOR OF LOEW SPEAKING AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN COACH JOACHIM LOEW SAYING: (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN COACH JOACHIM LOEW SAYING: "I think, it is going to be a game, in which both teams need to show high speed. I am not expecting a very offensive Ghana team, as they could live with a draw, so there will be a slight change in the starting position in comparison to the match against Australia. I think therefore this match will not only mentally, but also physically take us to the limits." NEWS CONFERENCE FIFA SOUTH AFRICA LOGO LOEW SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN COACH JOACHIM LOEW SAYING: "Our players can deal with this situation, I don´t feel any special nervousness, I feel a certain excitement and concentration and conviction. Especially players like Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Per Mertesacker, Arne Friedrich, they give me the impression, that they are able to lead the team and that everyone of us knows, we have the potential and the quality to win such a game against Ghana." CAMERA FIFA LOGO EXTERIOR OF NEWS CONFERENCE CAMERAS FILMING LOEW LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 8th July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA5HKW8PG30A5OI8R8NNXPQVM62
  • Story Text: Germany could start with two strikers, one of whom will almost certainly be Cacau, when the three-time World Cup winners take on Ghana on Wednesday for a spot in the next round, coach Joachim Loew said on Tuesday (June 22).
    Forward Miroslav Klose is suspended for their final Group D game after being sent off in their defeat to Serbia and in-form Cacau looks set to win his 11th cap.
    "At the moment I tend to think that Cacau can play from the start," Loew told reporters in Pretoria after opting not to take the team to Johannesburg's Soccer City stadium for training to avoid a rush-hour bus ride.
    Germany need to beat Ghana to make sure they are not eliminated at the group stage for the first time in their World Cup history.
    The African team are top with four points ahead of Germany and Serbia on three. Australia, who have one point, face the Serbs in their final group match (also at 1830 GMT) on Wednesday in Nelspruit.
    Loew said substitute strikers Stefan Kiessling and Mario Gomez were also ready to step in but the Brazil-born Cacau seemed to have the edge.
    "Maybe I will change one or two positions, that is possible. There are several variations but the final decision will be taken this evening with the coaching staff," Loew said.
    Loew did not rule out starting with two forwards after playing their first two games with a lone striker in Klose, to add more offensive punch to his team.
    Ghana could become the first African nation to advance to the next stage, something Loew said gave their rivals extra motivation.
    He did however have no doubt his team would avoid going out at the first hurdle.
    "We all know we have the quality and potential to win this match. I know it will be enormously difficult. This game will drain us not only mentally but also physically," he said.
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