Löw: Cup within Germany's grasp
Reuters - Saturday 03 July 2010, 18:14
CAPE TOWN - Germany Joachim Low believes
his young team have the country's first World Cup triumph for 20
years within their grasp after demolishing an Argentina side he
suggested were now past their prime on Saturday.
"There is still a lot for us to achieve," said a calm Low,
following the three-time winners' mesmerising 4-0 trouncing.
"There are still two matches to go. We have got it in our
own grasp to win the big prize," the 50-year-old told reporters.
Germany, who won the title in 1954, 1974 and 1990, looked
sharper against their much-fancied opponents, whom they also
beat at the same stage of the 2006 tournament on penalties.
But spot kicks were not needed this time as Germany outran,
outsmarted and outclassed Argentina, making them look like a
team past their best.
'YOUNGER, FASTER'
"Our players are younger, faster. Some of the Argentine
players perhaps do not have this speed anymore," said Low, who
in his first World Cup in charge has already seen Germany's
youngest World Cup team since 1934 fire four goals past England
and Argentina.
"In today's victory we were highly disciplined, but we were
also willing to put in the extra effort," he said.
After 20-year-old Thomas Muller put them ahead in the third
minute with a glancing header, the Germans stepped on the gas in
the second half with Miroslav Klose adding one either side of an
Arne Friedrich goal.
"We knew at half time we would need to get a second goal
because we knew Argentina would put a lot of pressure on us in
the second half," he said.
"I am very proud of this team, the great way we played in
the second half was first class. The team played like
champions," Low said.
Germany will now play either Spain or Paraguay in the
semi-final, with the two meeting later on Saturday in the last
quarter-final.
"I hope we meet Spain next, they are favourites, an
excellent team," said man-of-the-match Bastian Schweinsteiger,
who set up the first goal with a curled free-kick.
"We lost to them two years ago in the (final of the)
European Championship and I always enjoy most playing against
top teams," he said.
Follow FFT.com on Twitter
Join FFT.com on Facebook