Low: Germany want to underscore our success in Russia - RUSSIA 2018
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Joachim Low has extended his contract as Germany coach to 2020 and expressed his desire to see them retain their FIFA World Cup™ crown in Russia.
After thanking his DFB chiefs and backroom staff, the 56-year-old said: “Our cooperation is very well known, and we all want to underscore the success of Brazil at the World Cup in Russia. I am very happy to develop the team and the players.”
First, though, Germany must reach the 21st World Cup – the 2002 edition was the last in which the holders didn’t have to qualify. Brazil finished top of the CONMEBOL race to Germany 2006, Italy comfortably won their group in the South Africa 2010 preliminaries, and Spain beat France for first in their pool in the battle for places at the 2014 extravaganza.
Low urged Germany to follow suit: “The only thing that counts is for us to qualify as group winners for the World Cup.”
Die Mannschaft lead Group C, two points above Azerbaijan and five clear of third-placed Northern Ireland. The Germans play their final qualifier of the year away to San Marino on 11 November.
DFB president Reinhard Grindel was delighted Low, who was assistant to Jurgen Klinsmann during the 2006 World Cup and assumed the reins after that tournament, had committed himself to the four-time global kings.
“I have always emphasised that I cannot imagine a better coach for our national team than Jogi Low,” said Grindel. “He has shaped the team in the past years with his passion and high professional competence, which was further developed at the World Cup. There’s a great determination and motivation to defend our title in Russia.”