Germany’s Joachim Löw warns against underestimating Algeria
Germany's national coach Joachim Löw at a news conference where he discussed their next match, against Algeria.
Joachim Löw says now is the time for his Germany side to show their true value while warning against underestimating their last-16 opponents Algeria. With sides such as Spain, Italy, Portugal and England eliminated in the group stages, Löw feels his side have a real opportunity of going all the way to the World Cup final, but their first hurdle in the knockout stages is not to be taken lightly.
“Personally, I cannot remember a group stage in which so many of the favourites were knocked out,” he said at a press conference. “But tournaments are marathons, not a 100-metre sprint. Many nations in the past have won their first three games, and then lost their fourth. We’ve seen it all before. A team’s got to be able to raise their game all the time. If you can manage that, then that’s a masterstroke.”
Germany are set to do that with Löw admitting there is still plenty of margin for improvement. “There’s been lots of light, but also plenty of shadows; some good things, but also things which didn’t work,” he said. “We won our group, which was our primary objective, so we are happy, but we are also self-critical and we know that we can play better. We’ve not reached our limit yet, and now the knockout phase begins, the decisive games are here.”
First up are Algeria, who have revenge on their mind for the so-called no-aggression pact between Germany and Austria in 1982 which resulted in their elimination. “If anybody thinks or believes – and I think this is a feeling among the general public – that Algeria are easy opponents and that we can already start thinking of the next round, then they’re making a huge mistake,” Löw warned.
“We must remain focused and on our toes because any complacency will be punished. I took a look at Algeria yesterday for an hour and I know we’re up against a very compact side who run a lot and are aggressive. I’ve rarely seen a team defend so vehemently, but still attack with purpose. Their whole country is euphoric, so we’re up against strong opponents.”
That euphoria is also rooted in that 1982 Gijón match which Löw insists means nothing to his players, even if it “may be an additional motivation” for Algeria. “When I hear people talking about revenge, it irritates me,” he said. “Apart from maybe [Miroslav] Klose or [Roman] Weidenfeller, none of our players were even born then so they have no idea what happened. For our players, it’s not an issue.”
Löw said that the Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski will not feature on Monday due to a muscular problem, but that he would be available for selection again “for our next game – should we get through”. Jérôme Boateng was also treading lightly in training, but he will be available, Löw said.
Algeria hope to give Germany World Cup absolution for ‘Shame of Gijón’
The Algeria coach, Vahid Halilhodzic has rectified a lack of fitness and psychological strength in his side.
If revenge is a plate best served cold, Algeria will hope to dish it out to Germany in their round of 16 match on Monday, 32 years after one of the most shameful games in World Cup history. In all likelihood, however, a powerful Germany side will bring the Desert Foxes’ run to an end and deprive them of retribution and glory. But it might not be easy.
The Germans, champions in 1954, 1974 and 1990, arrived in Brazil as one of the favourites. They showed their credentials by demolishing Portugal 4-0 in their opening game, but stumbled slightly against Ghana, drawing 2-2. They then dismissed USA with a strong performance that still left some room for improvement, although striker Thomas Müller again showed his potency.
Algeria, guided by Vahid Halilhodzic and carrying the hopes of the Arab world with them, have impressed with their tenacity and ball skills. After losing their opening match to Belgium, they overwhelmed South Korea 4-2 in Porto Alegre. In their crucial final group game, a headed goal by Islam Slimani brought them back from 1-0 down against Russia to secure a draw, sending them into the last 16, and their fans – possibly the most devout in the tournament – into ecstasy.
Algeria have beaten Germany in the World Cup before, defeating the then-West Germany 2-1 in Spain in 1982, but what followed was shameful. After also defeating Chile, Algeria were on the verge of qualifying for the knockout stage. West Germany met Austria in the final group game, with a narrow German victory enough for both teams to go through – and eliminate Algeria.
After an early German goal, the two kicked the ball around aimlessly without trying to score again. The cynical display has gone down in the annals of footballing infamy as “the Shame of Gijón”.
So the stage is set for a grand show in Porto Alegre’s Estádio Beira-Rio, with the winner’s reward a quarter-final against France or Nigeria.
Germany can expect a warm welcome in the Rio Grande do Sul capital – the state has a significant population of German descent from immigration in the 19th century. Though satisfied with Germany’s performance against the United States, the coach, Joachim Löw, signalled a need to tighten up in several aspects of their play. He criticised the finishing and said they were also careless in the match’s later stages, squandering possession in midfield.
“We lost the ball at the end of the match unnecessarily and that’s really dangerous – other teams take advantage of that,” Löw said. “We could have had two or three more goals if we had played with a bit more finishing concentration.”
Still, with four goals, Müller is the tournament’s joint top scorer with Argentina’s Lionel Messi and, before Saturday’s game against Chile, Brazil’s Neymar. The German machine must be favoured to accomplish their mission.
Algeria will hope Porto Alegre will be propitious after their historic battle here against South Korea, when their four goals made them the highest-scoring African side in a World Cup game. This is also the first time two African sides have reached the last 16 – African champions Nigeria being the other. Halilhodzic had complained after the loss to Belgium that his team lacked the fitness to press to the end and needed to be psychologically stronger. That seems to have been rectified.
Algeria, whose team is built around French-born players from the former colonial power’s immigrant community, were on the back foot against the Russians for much of the first half, but they rallied magnificently in the second.
Slimani is also proving to be one of the tournament’s players to watch and after his 60th-minute goal, Algeria had the discipline to hold firm against surging Russian attacks.
“I love it as a coach to see my team fighting like this,” Halilhodzic said after the match. “[Germany] are a huge team. It’s going to be very complicated for us. We are small Algeria against big Germany.”
Joachim Löw says now is the time for his Germany side to show their true value while warning against underestimating their last-16 opponents Algeria. With sides such as Spain, Italy, Portugal and England eliminated in the group stages, Löw feels his side have a real opportunity of going all the way to the World Cup final, but their first hurdle in the knockout stages is not to be taken lightly.
“Personally, I cannot remember a group stage in which so many of the favourites were knocked out,” he said at a press conference. “But tournaments are marathons, not a 100-metre sprint. Many nations in the past have won their first three games, and then lost their fourth. We’ve seen it all before. A team’s got to be able to raise their game all the time. If you can manage that, then that’s a masterstroke.”
Germany are set to do that with Löw admitting there is still plenty of margin for improvement. “There’s been lots of light, but also plenty of shadows; some good things, but also things which didn’t work,” he said. “We won our group, which was our primary objective, so we are happy, but we are also self-critical and we know that we can play better. We’ve not reached our limit yet, and now the knockout phase begins, the decisive games are here.”
First up are Algeria, who have revenge on their mind for the so-called no-aggression pact between Germany and Austria in 1982 which resulted in their elimination. “If anybody thinks or believes – and I think this is a feeling among the general public – that Algeria are easy opponents and that we can already start thinking of the next round, then they’re making a huge mistake,” Löw warned.
“We must remain focused and on our toes because any complacency will be punished. I took a look at Algeria yesterday for an hour and I know we’re up against a very compact side who run a lot and are aggressive. I’ve rarely seen a team defend so vehemently, but still attack with purpose. Their whole country is euphoric, so we’re up against strong opponents.”
That euphoria is also rooted in that 1982 Gijón match which Löw insists means nothing to his players, even if it “may be an additional motivation” for Algeria. “When I hear people talking about revenge, it irritates me,” he said. “Apart from maybe [Miroslav] Klose or [Roman] Weidenfeller, none of our players were even born then so they have no idea what happened. For our players, it’s not an issue.”
Löw said that the Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski will not feature on Monday due to a muscular problem, but that he would be available for selection again “for our next game – should we get through”. Jérôme Boateng was also treading lightly in training, but he will be available, Löw said.
Algeria hope to give Germany World Cup absolution for ‘Shame of Gijón’
If revenge is a plate best served cold, Algeria will hope to dish it out to Germany in their round of 16 match on Monday, 32 years after one of the most shameful games in World Cup history. In all likelihood, however, a powerful Germany side will bring the Desert Foxes’ run to an end and deprive them of retribution and glory. But it might not be easy.
The Germans, champions in 1954, 1974 and 1990, arrived in Brazil as one of the favourites. They showed their credentials by demolishing Portugal 4-0 in their opening game, but stumbled slightly against Ghana, drawing 2-2. They then dismissed USA with a strong performance that still left some room for improvement, although striker Thomas Müller again showed his potency.
Algeria, guided by Vahid Halilhodzic and carrying the hopes of the Arab world with them, have impressed with their tenacity and ball skills. After losing their opening match to Belgium, they overwhelmed South Korea 4-2 in Porto Alegre. In their crucial final group game, a headed goal by Islam Slimani brought them back from 1-0 down against Russia to secure a draw, sending them into the last 16, and their fans – possibly the most devout in the tournament – into ecstasy.
Algeria have beaten Germany in the World Cup before, defeating the then-West Germany 2-1 in Spain in 1982, but what followed was shameful. After also defeating Chile, Algeria were on the verge of qualifying for the knockout stage. West Germany met Austria in the final group game, with a narrow German victory enough for both teams to go through – and eliminate Algeria.
After an early German goal, the two kicked the ball around aimlessly without trying to score again. The cynical display has gone down in the annals of footballing infamy as “the Shame of Gijón”.
So the stage is set for a grand show in Porto Alegre’s Estádio Beira-Rio, with the winner’s reward a quarter-final against France or Nigeria.
Germany can expect a warm welcome in the Rio Grande do Sul capital – the state has a significant population of German descent from immigration in the 19th century. Though satisfied with Germany’s performance against the United States, the coach, Joachim Löw, signalled a need to tighten up in several aspects of their play. He criticised the finishing and said they were also careless in the match’s later stages, squandering possession in midfield.
“We lost the ball at the end of the match unnecessarily and that’s really dangerous – other teams take advantage of that,” Löw said. “We could have had two or three more goals if we had played with a bit more finishing concentration.”
Still, with four goals, Müller is the tournament’s joint top scorer with Argentina’s Lionel Messi and, before Saturday’s game against Chile, Brazil’s Neymar. The German machine must be favoured to accomplish their mission.
Algeria will hope Porto Alegre will be propitious after their historic battle here against South Korea, when their four goals made them the highest-scoring African side in a World Cup game. This is also the first time two African sides have reached the last 16 – African champions Nigeria being the other. Halilhodzic had complained after the loss to Belgium that his team lacked the fitness to press to the end and needed to be psychologically stronger. That seems to have been rectified.
Algeria, whose team is built around French-born players from the former colonial power’s immigrant community, were on the back foot against the Russians for much of the first half, but they rallied magnificently in the second.
Slimani is also proving to be one of the tournament’s players to watch and after his 60th-minute goal, Algeria had the discipline to hold firm against surging Russian attacks.
“I love it as a coach to see my team fighting like this,” Halilhodzic said after the match. “[Germany] are a huge team. It’s going to be very complicated for us. We are small Algeria against big Germany.”
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