Despite a very successful first season in charge of the national team, an early contract extension is not on the cards for Bundestrainer Joachim Löw.
According to the trainer, “This is not an issue an issue at the moment.”
In an interview with Kicker, the national team coach said that what was important was the continuation of his sporting concept beyond 2008.
“If I had one wish, it would be that we don’t leave the path we are on and continue to develop. Who carries the concept through is not as important.”
Recently Franz Beckenbauer has suggested that Löw’s contract which runs to the European Championship be extended. Success at the European Championships next summer would surely bring about that extension.
One year before Euro 2008, Löw has evaluated his current personnel and declared that despite relatively poor seasons, Lukas Podolski and Bastian Schweinsteiger still feature in his plans.
“Nothing is decided, but it’s clear that we have an axis of Lehmann, Metzelder, Frings, Ballack, Schneider and Klose," he said. "They lead the team.
"Those that formed the core at the World Cup would normally be expected to be there for the European Championships - that goes for Podolski and Schweinsteiger."
Löw feels that his choices for the squad have improved since the World Cup.
“We have more alternatives than a year ago,” he explained, naming Stuttgart’s Serdar Tasci, und Sami Khedira as well as Leverkusen’s Gonzalo Castro as examples.
“We also have players returning from injury who will be pushing to return to the squad” he added. He is thinking about David Odonkor, Gerald Asamoah, Tim Borowski and Sebastian Kehl.
With 9 victories in 11 games, Löw describes Germany as “at par with the top teams in Europe like Italy, France, Portugal and England.”
Goal.com - Germany - No Early Extension For Joachim Löw