Germany coach Loew calls on Confed Cup winners

AFP, BERLIN: Germany coach Joachim Loew on Friday called up 17 members of his Confederations Cup-winning squad and only seven world champions for next week's World Cup qualifiers.

Germany face the Czech Republic in Prague on September 1 and host Norway three days later.

With six wins out of six the 2014 world champions can secure their passage to Russia next year by taking three points in Prague as long as group rivals Northern Ireland fail to win both of their outings against San Marino and the Czechs.

The make-up of Loew's squad suggests he favours relying on the existing momentum built up by the Confed Cup triumph in Russia this summer rather than on experience and reputation.

“For me titles won in the past don't count, the only thing that counts is the World Cup at the end of this season,” the Germany boss said.

“We want to win the title, and we will throw everything at this objective. The players know what I expect of them and they know the competition is very strong.”

Germany coach Loew calls on Confed Cup winners

AFP, BERLIN: Germany coach Joachim Loew on Friday called up 17 members of his Confederations Cup-winning squad and only seven world champions for next weeks World Cup qualifiers. Germany face the Czech Republic in Prague on September 1 and host Norway three days later. With six wins out of six the 2014 world champions can secure their passage to Russia next year by taking three points in Prague as long as group rivals Northern Ireland fail to win both of their outings against San Marino and the Czechs. The make-up of Loews squad suggests he favours relying on the existing momentum built up by the Confed Cup triumph in Russia this summer rather than on experience and reputation. For me titles won in the past dont count, the only thing that counts is the World Cup at the end of this season, the Germany boss said. We want to win the title, and we will throw everything at this objective. The players know what I expect of them and they know the competition is very strong.