SOUTH AFRICA: SOCCER/FOOTBALL - WORLD CUP 2010 - Germany's coach Joachim Loew says team will not be afraid against Argentina

Record ID: 455440

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: SOCCER/FOOTBALL - WORLD CUP 2010 - Germany's coach Joachim Loew says team will not be afraid against Argentina
  • Date: 3rd July 2010
  • Summary: CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA (JULY 2, 2010) (REUTERS) **FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY** GERMANY'S CUP TEAM COACH, JOACHIM LOEW WALKS INTO THE MEDIA BRIEFING WITH GERMAN DEFENDER, JEROME BOATENG (SOUNDBITE) (German) JOACHIM LOEW, COACH OF GERMANY'S 2010 WORLD CUP SOCCER TEAM, SAYING: "All our players are extremely motivated, they are under pressure and they are absolutely hot and when they come onto the pitch tomorrow, they will be ready, they will be there. We are not going to spend time in the changing rooms, shivering, being too afraid and hoping that the referee will decide to delay the game or not to start the game. Not at all, we can't wait to get out there, we're fully emotional, completely encouraged as far as motivation goes, it's particularly high, especially just after a tournament." JOURNALISTS IN MEDIA CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (German) JOACHIM LOEW, COACH OF GERMANY'S 2010 WORLD CUP SOCCER TEAM, SAYING: "Bastian Schweinsteiger gave his personal view at the press conference. We have freedom of speech in the German team. If you asked me the same question about how I perceived the match four years ago, then I remember the match quite differently. I never thought it was unfair or violent. That match was hard-fought for 120 minutes, but I didn't think there was any unfairness." LOEW, BOATENG AND MODERATORS AT THE BRIEFING (SOUNDBITE) (German) JOACHIM LOEW, COACH OF GERMANY'S 2010 WORLD CUP SOCCER TEAM, SAYING: "I told the team I am very pleased with players that have not been fielded regularly. I've observed the training units very carefully and we have several secret weapons, several trump cards in our players on the bench. They have been working hard for six weeks. They may not have experience on the pitch, but when I bring someone on, I'm always 100 percent sure they'll excel." LOEW, BOATENG AND MODERATORS AT THE BRIEFING (SOUNDBITE) (German) JOACHIM LOEW, COACH OF GERMANY'S 2010 WORLD CUP SOCCER TEAM, SAYING: "On the pitch, they (Argentina) are very aggressive, which is part of their strength, and I think that's what Bastian Schweinsteiger was saying. Now, in 2006 there was a bit of an escalation after the penalty shootout and that's there to stay, but it shouldn't be about it all the time. We know there's going to be a cut-throat fight tomorrow, absolutely, on the pitch. But I don't think we lack respect vis-à-vis Argentina, we very much appreciate them as great footballers and we are fully aware of the fact that we will have to play and win against a team with great resistance." MEDIA BRIEFING ENDS, PARTICIPANTS LEAVE
  • Embargoed: 18th July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa, South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA123JH04T4MSC7V9SERD40IUG3
  • Story Text: Germany's coach Joachim Loew says that his team is "hot" and will not be "shivering in the dressing room" in fear before their match with Argentina on Saturday.
    Germany will go into their World Cup quarter-final clash against Argentina with the same enthusiasm that has marked their tournament so far and will have no fear against their more experienced opponents, their coach,Joachim Loew said on Friday (July 2).
    "They are absolutely hot and when they come onto the pitch tomorrow, they will be ready, they will be there. We are not going to spend time in the changing rooms, shivering, being too afraid and hoping that the referee will decide to delay the game or not to start the game. Not at all, we can't wait to get out there," said Loew.
    Loew was speaking at a media briefing in Cape Town where two of the tournament's most exciting teams so far go up against each other on Saturday (July 3) for a spot in the last four, with Germany's Lukas Podolski and Mesut Ozil looking fit to play.
    Both will be training later on Friday, with only striker Cacau doubtful for the match.
    "I've observed the training units very carefully and we have several secret weapons, several trump cards in our players on the bench. They have been working hard for six weeks. They may not have experience on the pitch, but when I bring someone on, I'm always 100 percent sure they'll excel," said Loew about his reserves.
    The 50-year-old coach also played down a war of words that had erupted in the past days with German players calling the Argentines unfair, disrespectful and bad losers.
    Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger and captain Philipp Lahm had been referring to their 2006 World Cup quarter-final win over Argentina on penalties which sparked a post-match brawl involving players, coaches and team officials from both sides.
    "We have freedom of speech in the German team. If you asked me the same question about how I perceived the match four years ago, then I remember the match quite differently. I never thought it was unfair or violent. That match was hard-fought for 120 minutes, but I didn't think there was any unfairness," Loew said.
    Loew said he expected Argentina to continue playing their offensive game just like Germany would and when asked if accusations that he disrespects the Argentine team are true, he responded:
    "We know there's going to be a cut-throat fight tomorrow, absolutely, on the pitch. But I don't think we lack respect vis-à-vis Argentina, we very much appreciate them as great footballers and we are fully aware of the fact that we will have to play and win against a team with great resistance."
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