Loew turns to Italy to put Germany in sync
With a penchant for espressos and Italian life in general, it's perhaps no surprise that Germany coach Joachim Loew has chosen the picturesque wine-producing region of Eppan in northern Italy as the venue for his team's pre-World Cup training camp.
Languid evenings glugging Pinot Grigio, however, are not on the agenda, with Loew intending to use every single minute to shape a tight-knit group ready to defend the title won in Brazil four years ago.
Team spirit, he says, can make all the difference. Indeed, the 58-year-old's ability to gel his charges within short periods of time has been one of the hallmarks of his distinguished 12-year reign as Germany boss.
In just over three weeks' time, Germany will kick off its World Cup campaign against Mexico in Moscow, and Loew is again relishing the challenge of focusing minds on the job at hand.
"As in the past ahead of previous World Cups, the preparatory camp is the best opportunity to lay the foundation for a successful World Cup. We'll be working hard to win the title," Loew said after the team's arrival in Eppan. Team manager Oliver Bierhoff echoed Loew's sentiments, saying: "We know what it takes to do it again. What happened to some of the past world champions four years after their victory is a warning shot for us. We want to do better."
Loew and Bierhoff will have to cheer up their bunch of frustrated Bayern Munich players after the Bavarians were upset by Eintracht Frankfurt in the German Cup final earlier this month.
To "give them the chance to get their heads free", Loew has allowed Mats Hummels, Joshua Kimmich, Thomas Mueller, Niklas Suele and Jerome Boateng to join the squad on Friday after a fourday vacation.
Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen and Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger, who were also busy with their clubs, will follow, while Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos will arrive next week following Saturday's Champions League final against Liverpool in Kiev.
Loew has selected 27 players for the Eppan camp, meaning four will miss out on Russia when he whittles his squad down to his final 23.
Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil, Bayern defender Boateng and veteran keeper Manuel Neuer are injury concerns, with German tabloid Bild reporting that Neuer, who has not played since September following foot surgery, will only travel to Russia if he is fit enough to start as Loew's No 1.
A friendly against Austria in Klagenfurt on June 2 is said to be the deadline for Neuer to prove his fitness, with Barca's Ter Stegen waiting in the wings as back-up.
Germany then hosts fellow World Cup finalist Saudi Arabia in Leverkusen on June 8 before two more warm-ups against Germany's Under-20 team.
As well as Mexico, Loew's side will square off against Sweden and South Korea in Group F in Russia.
Xinhua
