Euro 2016: qualifying Loew unhappy with small margin of victory
Germany defeat Gibraltar by four goals, not enough to take them into third
NUREMBERG:
Germany coach Joachim Loew was left fuming as the world champions were only able to win 4-0 against minnows Gibraltar to end 2014 third in their Euro 2016 qualifying group.
Thomas Muller scored twice and Mario Goetze netted once to make it 3-0 before half time. However, only an own-goal from Gibraltar's Yogan Santos added to the tally in the second half and Loew was not pleased by the poor display.
“I am anything but happy, the team didn't measure up the way we had wished,” said Loew. “We want to play like world champions, so from that perspective four goals aren’t enough. We didn't do the things we talked about before the game and our performance wasn't up to scratch.”
Germany face European champions Spain in Vigo on Tuesday in a friendly and Loew said he expects his players to finish the year with a good performance. “I think a few players need the winter break to get their heads back into things and put Brazil behind us," he admitted.
With Preston North End defender Scott Wiseman the only full-time professional in the starting XI, Gibraltar are still looking for their first goal of the campaign, having leaked 21 in their four qualifying games.
But coach Allen Bula was delighted with the result from his part-timers against the world champions. “I'm very, very proud, how little Gibraltar, the smallest nation in Uefa, fought against the world champions," said Bula. “We have shut up a few people who said we didn’t deserve the chance to play here. A 4-0 result against the world champions is as much as you can wish for and now we can return to our normal lives."
Ranieri sacked as Greece coach
Claudio Ranieri was sacked on Saturday as coach of Greece, a day after his side lost 1-0 at home to the Faroes Islands.
A statement from the Greek Football Federation said that the Italian would remain at the helm for the friendly against Serbia on Tuesday but would then leave the post.
The humiliating loss to the Faroes left former European champions Greece bottom of group F, facing an uphill task to qualify for the Euro 2016 finals in France.
“There was no other option than to terminate the contract,” said the statement.
The federation denied that a replacement has already been found, saying that there was ‘plenty of time’ to look for a new coach as the next Euro 2016 qualification match, against Hungary, was not until March.
Ranieri had only taken over as Greece coach from Portugal's Fernando Santos in July, who had taken the team their first ever last 16 finish in the World Cup.
Balotelli ruled out of Croatia qualifier
Italy striker Mario Balotelli has been ruled out of Sunday's Euro 2016 qualifier against Croatia due to a hamstring injury, claimed reports from the Azzurri training camp.
Balotelli had been called into the squad by coach Antonio Conte after having been sidelined for Italy's opening three wins in Group H.
Several reports in Italy cited the medical staff as saying that Balotelli, who would have been looking forward to playing his first game under Conte, will return to England after being diagnosed with a hamstring and adductor problem.
Italy sit second in Group H behind Croatia after three opening wins for each side, but have not beaten the Croats in 72 years.
Germany coach Joachim Loew was left fuming as the world champions were only able to win 4-0 against minnows Gibraltar to end 2014 third in their Euro 2016 qualifying group.
Thomas Muller scored twice and Mario Goetze netted once to make it 3-0 before half time. However, only an own-goal from Gibraltar's Yogan Santos added to the tally in the second half and Loew was not pleased by the poor display.
“I am anything but happy, the team didn't measure up the way we had wished,” said Loew. “We want to play like world champions, so from that perspective four goals aren’t enough. We didn't do the things we talked about before the game and our performance wasn't up to scratch.”
Germany face European champions Spain in Vigo on Tuesday in a friendly and Loew said he expects his players to finish the year with a good performance. “I think a few players need the winter break to get their heads back into things and put Brazil behind us," he admitted.
With Preston North End defender Scott Wiseman the only full-time professional in the starting XI, Gibraltar are still looking for their first goal of the campaign, having leaked 21 in their four qualifying games.
But coach Allen Bula was delighted with the result from his part-timers against the world champions. “I'm very, very proud, how little Gibraltar, the smallest nation in Uefa, fought against the world champions," said Bula. “We have shut up a few people who said we didn’t deserve the chance to play here. A 4-0 result against the world champions is as much as you can wish for and now we can return to our normal lives."
Ranieri sacked as Greece coach
Claudio Ranieri was sacked on Saturday as coach of Greece, a day after his side lost 1-0 at home to the Faroes Islands.
A statement from the Greek Football Federation said that the Italian would remain at the helm for the friendly against Serbia on Tuesday but would then leave the post.
The humiliating loss to the Faroes left former European champions Greece bottom of group F, facing an uphill task to qualify for the Euro 2016 finals in France.
“There was no other option than to terminate the contract,” said the statement.
The federation denied that a replacement has already been found, saying that there was ‘plenty of time’ to look for a new coach as the next Euro 2016 qualification match, against Hungary, was not until March.
Ranieri had only taken over as Greece coach from Portugal's Fernando Santos in July, who had taken the team their first ever last 16 finish in the World Cup.
Balotelli ruled out of Croatia qualifier
Italy striker Mario Balotelli has been ruled out of Sunday's Euro 2016 qualifier against Croatia due to a hamstring injury, claimed reports from the Azzurri training camp.
Balotelli had been called into the squad by coach Antonio Conte after having been sidelined for Italy's opening three wins in Group H.
Several reports in Italy cited the medical staff as saying that Balotelli, who would have been looking forward to playing his first game under Conte, will return to England after being diagnosed with a hamstring and adductor problem.
Italy sit second in Group H behind Croatia after three opening wins for each side, but have not beaten the Croats in 72 years.