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FOOTBALL

Germany beat Israel, still ‘have far to go’

Germany coach Joachim Löw admitted his team have much to improve after they laboured to a 2-0 friendly win over minnows Israel on Thursday in their final warm-up game before Euro 2012.

Germany beat Israel, still 'have far to go'
Photo: DPA

The Germans open their Euro 2012 campaign in Group B against Portugal in Lviv, Ukraine, on Saturday June 9, but after losing two of their last three games, Löw’s side boosted flagging confidence against minnows Israel.

A first-half goal from Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez put the hosts ahead before Leverkusen’s Andre Schürrle came off the bench to double the lead eight minutes from time with a superb long-range strike.

Having suffered a shock 5-3 defeat to Switzerland in Basel last Saturday, the Germans managed to avoid their third straight defeat of the year, after also losing to France in February, but must still improve, according to Löw.

“It was a pretty decent final test, this will give us some momentum,” he said.

“Not everything ran smoothly, but taking a victory into next week will do us good. We still have to improve and work on finishing our goal chances, the organisation was better, but there is still much to do.”

Germany had far more shape and purpose in their attack than they showed in Basel, but captain Philipp Lahm succinctly summed up his team’s laboured performance.

“We have sensational quality in the squad, now we just have to show it,” he said. Adding, “we had some good combinations. It can’t always go perfectly, which is why the victory was important.”

Germany’s chances against Portugal received a boost with the news Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger should be fit for the opening game.

The 27-year-old injured his calf in Bayern Munich’s Champions League final defeat to Chelsea a fortnight ago and sat out the win over Israel, but should be fit.

“Bastian has been pain-free since Wednesday,” said Löw. “Now he has to start to run and he will train with the team again by Tuesday at the latest.”

Schweinsteiger, who has scored 23 goals in 90 appearances for Germany, suffered heart-break in the final as his missed spot-kick allowed Chelsea to win the penalty shoot-out, but is one of Löw’s first choice names.

Israel coach Eli Guttman is backing the Germans to live up to their pre-tournament billing as one of the favourites to lift the title in the Kiev final on July 1.

“I am satisfied on the whole,” he said. “Germany is one of the best teams in the world, it was normal that we had to defend well against such an opponent.

“This German team are among the favourites, even their bench is impressive. They can certainly do it at the European Championships.”

AFP/jcw

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RACISM

VIDEO: Spain’s La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

Spain's La Liga on Monday said it was reviewing a video of a child making racist insults towards Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during the 2-2 draw with Valencia at the weekend.

VIDEO: Spain's La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

“We’re in the process of studying and analysing the facts from a legal standpoint to see what we can and should do,” La Liga sources said.

In a video published by a journalist for ESPN Brasil, and picked up by Spanish media, a boy sitting in a woman’s lap can be heard calling Vinicius a “monkey”.

https://twitter.com/GravesenFumado/status/1764242481984491822

The Brazilian scored twice for Madrid as his team recovered from two goals down at Mestalla on Saturday.

Vinicius raised his fist in a “Black Power” salute after the first of his two goals at a ground where he was racially abused last season. Valencia subsequently banned three people from the stadium for life.

The 23-year-old has become a symbol of the fight against discrimination in Spanish football after suffering racist abuse on many occasions, and he was jeered repeatedly by home supporters on Saturday.

Jude Bellingham was sent off after the final whistle against Valencia for protesting after the referee blew the final whistle right before the England midfielder headed home what he thought was the winning goal.

READ ALSO: Football star Vinicius highlights racist behaviour from Spanish fans

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