Spain win boosts Löw's spirits for 2015
Mannschaft coach Joachim Löw is relishing a fresh start for Germany in 2015 after their 1-0 friendly win over Spain capped their World Cup-winning year in style following several below-par performances.
Toni Kroos' 90th-minute winner in pouring rain in Vigo on Tuesday gave Löw his first win over Spain at the third attempt and after seven years in charge with an experimental team affected by several injury withdrawals.
But Germany's head coach admits there is work to be done after their recent poor performances in the Euro 2016 qualifiers have left them third in the group.
Germany suffered a post-Brazil hangover with a shock 2-0 defeat to Poland and 1-1 draw with Ireland last month, then produced another below-par performance on Friday against minnows Gibraltar in a 4-0 victory.
The world champions' next international is away to Georgia at the end of March and with the Bundesliga set to break for winter in January, Löw wants a new approach in 2015.
"We haven't delivered particularly convincing performances recently and lag behind a little in our European Championship qualifiers, so it's nice to end this sensational year with the feeling of success against a top team," said Löw.
"I still have a few appointments (in 2014), and after such a great and exciting year, it will be good to come back, following a bit of rest, after the winter break.
"In January and February, we will then start working again as a coaching team with the squad and individual players.
"We'll also discuss which new approaches we'll take in 2015."
The win over European champions Spain was the icing on the cake for Löw following Germany's fourth World Cup triumph in Brazil in July.
"I think we couldn't ask for a better end to the year," he said.
"It was a game under very difficult conditions and the condition of the pitch wasn't particularly good, so it was a successful evening.
"I'd have been happy with a 0-0 draw, because we played well tactically despite missing several players with injury."
Löw said he was very happy with the German defence, especially Hanover goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler, Germany's back-up shot-stopper who was deputising for the injured Manuel Neuer.
"I am very pleased with Ron-Robert, he made two or three excellent saves and I was very pleased that he took his chance calmly and kept things stable at the back," added Löw.
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Toni Kroos' 90th-minute winner in pouring rain in Vigo on Tuesday gave Löw his first win over Spain at the third attempt and after seven years in charge with an experimental team affected by several injury withdrawals.
But Germany's head coach admits there is work to be done after their recent poor performances in the Euro 2016 qualifiers have left them third in the group.
Germany suffered a post-Brazil hangover with a shock 2-0 defeat to Poland and 1-1 draw with Ireland last month, then produced another below-par performance on Friday against minnows Gibraltar in a 4-0 victory.
The world champions' next international is away to Georgia at the end of March and with the Bundesliga set to break for winter in January, Löw wants a new approach in 2015.
"We haven't delivered particularly convincing performances recently and lag behind a little in our European Championship qualifiers, so it's nice to end this sensational year with the feeling of success against a top team," said Löw.
"I still have a few appointments (in 2014), and after such a great and exciting year, it will be good to come back, following a bit of rest, after the winter break.
"In January and February, we will then start working again as a coaching team with the squad and individual players.
"We'll also discuss which new approaches we'll take in 2015."
The win over European champions Spain was the icing on the cake for Löw following Germany's fourth World Cup triumph in Brazil in July.
"I think we couldn't ask for a better end to the year," he said.
"It was a game under very difficult conditions and the condition of the pitch wasn't particularly good, so it was a successful evening.
"I'd have been happy with a 0-0 draw, because we played well tactically despite missing several players with injury."
Löw said he was very happy with the German defence, especially Hanover goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler, Germany's back-up shot-stopper who was deputising for the injured Manuel Neuer.
"I am very pleased with Ron-Robert, he made two or three excellent saves and I was very pleased that he took his chance calmly and kept things stable at the back," added Löw.
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