Löw defends picking Leverkusen's Adler as number one for World Cup
Germany's national football coach Joachim Löw insisted on Wednesday Rene Adler remains his first-choice goalkeeper going into the World Cup despite growing criticism of Bayer Leverkusen's goalie.
After Argentina beat Germany 1-0 in a friendly earlier this month, Adler was slammed for coming off his line early which led to Argentinian striker Gonzalo Higuain scoring the 45th-minute goal which gave his side victory.
And the 25-year-old has conceded eight goals in Bayer's last three Bundesliga games which have drawn rumbles of discontent from the German media.
"We won't throw our decisions on the scrapheap just because of every alleged error," Löw told Munich newspaper TZ. "For us, it is only about the overall impression - and we still see Rene Adler at the front."
After last November's tragic suicide of Hannover's Robert Enke, Schalke 04's Manuel Neuer and Bremen's Tim Wiese are Adler's main rivals for Germany's number one shirt and Löw says the trio will all go to the World Cup.
"For us, there is no reason to doubt the strength of our goalkeepers," Löw told German daily Bild. "Adler, Neuer and Wiese will travel with us to the World Cup. We have already said, it is in his hands whether Rene remains the number one goalkeeper. Mistakes happen to everyone sometimes and we have three strong goalkeepers."
Löw is set to announce his squad for the World Cup the week before the Bundesliga finishes on May 8, but says he was grateful for the defeat to Argentina.
"Quite simply, because it showed us where we made mistakes," said Löw. "Now we know what we must improve. I have quite clear images in my head now and a precise plan before we go
into the World Cup."
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After Argentina beat Germany 1-0 in a friendly earlier this month, Adler was slammed for coming off his line early which led to Argentinian striker Gonzalo Higuain scoring the 45th-minute goal which gave his side victory.
And the 25-year-old has conceded eight goals in Bayer's last three Bundesliga games which have drawn rumbles of discontent from the German media.
"We won't throw our decisions on the scrapheap just because of every alleged error," Löw told Munich newspaper TZ. "For us, it is only about the overall impression - and we still see Rene Adler at the front."
After last November's tragic suicide of Hannover's Robert Enke, Schalke 04's Manuel Neuer and Bremen's Tim Wiese are Adler's main rivals for Germany's number one shirt and Löw says the trio will all go to the World Cup.
"For us, there is no reason to doubt the strength of our goalkeepers," Löw told German daily Bild. "Adler, Neuer and Wiese will travel with us to the World Cup. We have already said, it is in his hands whether Rene remains the number one goalkeeper. Mistakes happen to everyone sometimes and we have three strong goalkeepers."
Löw is set to announce his squad for the World Cup the week before the Bundesliga finishes on May 8, but says he was grateful for the defeat to Argentina.
"Quite simply, because it showed us where we made mistakes," said Löw. "Now we know what we must improve. I have quite clear images in my head now and a precise plan before we go
into the World Cup."
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