Leow ‘pleased’ with German comeback

Coach content with unexpected 2-2 draw against Ghana.

FORTALEZA: Coach Joachim Loew was delighted by Germany’s fight-back in their 2-2 World Cup draw against Ghana on Saturday despite their below-par performance.

“I’m actually quite pleased because we showed great morale to come back from 2-1 down in these temperatures,” said Loew about the tropical conditions.

“We took the lead, then conceded two goals from nothing.

“The players are completely exhausted, but in the end we had a few good chances against a skillful team.”



Miroslav Klose equalled Brazilian legend Ronaldo’s record of 15 World Cup goals after coming off the bench to spare Germany’s blushes with the equaliser.

Mario Goetze had given Germany the lead before goals from Andre Ayew and Asamoah Gyan threatened to cause a major upset for the Black Stars in Fortaleza.

Loew said he hopes to have centre-back Jerome Boateng, who had to come off at half-time against Ghana with a thigh strain, and Thomas Mueller, who suffered a facial cut, fit for the US clash.

Loew also has the option of starting Klose, who would take sole possession of the World Cup all-time scoring record with another goal.

“It’s not been an easy season for him, but he has done it again and got in top shape for a tournament,” said Loew, referring to Klose’s injury-ravaged season with Lazio.

“From a coach’s point of view, it is great to have alternatives like him.”

‘I always believed in us’

Ghana coach Akwasi Appiah praised his side’s never-say-die spirit, as his team fought the torrid conditions.

“I always believed in us, because we fight until the end,” said Appiah, whose side faces Portugal in Brasilia on Thursday.

“It won’t be easy to reach the last 16, we only have a point, but it’s not impossible.

Gyan, whose goal saw him join Cameroon legend Roger Milla as the leading all-time African World Cup scorer with five, said that they had played much better than in the 2-1 defeat to the US.

“We believed in ourselves today [Sunday],” he said.

“I think tactically we were perfect. Now we definitely have to beat Portugal. We will have to focus but we believe we can beat them.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2014.

Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.