German national team coach Joachim Loew talks to Jerome Boateng (left) during their international friendly match against Chile in Stuttgart on Wednesday night.
Berlin: Germany coach Joachim Loew gesticulated wildly, screamed from the sidelines and pulled his hair in frustration during the 1-0 win over Chile on Wednesday, after the side put on a display that suggested they were well short of World Cup sharpness.
Loew’s emotional outbursts are a rare sight but he had good reason to feel aggrieved.
The Germans, without an international title since 1996, have great expectations when they travel to Brazil in June, hoping to lift the trophy for the fourth time and become the first European team to do so in a World Cup on South American soil.
However, their display in Stuttgart was far from convincing.
“We have to really improve in the coming months,” Loew told reporters. “We just could not show any dominance and saw how tough Chile are. There is still a lot of work to be done.
“It is always very good to see that it is not just Germany that has good footballers,” added the coach, who two days earlier had challenged his players to prove they were ready to secure a place in his squad.
Their trademark quick passing game was neutralised by a hard-working Chilean team that qualified for the finals as the third-placed South American team.
Meanwhile, Tim Cahill became Australia’s record goal-scorer on Wednesday although his double was not enough to see his side to a win as they let a 3-0 lead slip to lose 4-3 to fellow World Cup finals qualifiers Ecuador in London.
Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou was given plenty to think about after seeing his side concede four goals in the second-half although three of them came when they had been reduced to 10 men as goalkeeper Mitch Langerak was sent off.
Former Everton midfielder Cahill, who now plays his football in the United States, had previously been joint holder with Damian Mori, who finished his Socceroos career on 29.
It was an impressive return to the New Den for the 34-year-old, who had played his club football there for Millwall before joining Everton.
But the game itself turned into a nightmare for his team.
Australia’s three-goal half-time lead did not last long as Langerak was sent off either side of two Ecuador replies.
Agencies
