Joachim Loew: 'Spain have several Messis'
Monday, July 5, 2010 @ 11:25 PM
Germany's football coach Joachim Loew said that Spain have several Lionel Messis in their team as he looked ahead to their World Cup semi-final in Durban, South Africa.
"Spain doesn't just have one Messi, they have several Messis in their team, especially in attack, all the players there are in a position to decide the match," said Loew at Germany's training headquarters near Pretoria, South Africa.
"And I think that Spain is a team that unlike Argentina or England who, in those two matches, made lots of mistakes. We have to be in the position to push them into making mistakes, because on their own, they rarely make mistakes, neither in attack nor defence."
Loew said that he will be hoping that his midfield of Sami Khedira and Bastian Schweinsteiger will be able to combat Spain's Barcelona-based midfield of Andres Iniesta and Xavi.
"I think there will be crucial situations there where they try and take the advantage, if we can keep those players at bay and push ourselves forwards, then it would be a great advantage for us."
Loew will continue to wear his trademark blue sweater at matches and will not have it cleaned while his team keep winning.
He claimed he was not superstitious but admitted that pressure from other coaching staff and players to keep wearing his familiar sweater had paid off.
Germany beat England 4-1 in the second round and reached the semi-finals following a 4-0 demolition of Argentina, with Loew donning the V-necked garment each time.
Source: ITN News