SHARE
COPY LINK

FOOTBALL

Löw to test German World Cup hopefuls in France friendly

Germany's friendly against France on Tuesday offers Joachim Löw a chance of revenge, but the coach appears to be looking forward to the 2018 World Cup rather than back at Euro 2016.

Löw to test German World Cup hopefuls in France friendly
Joachim Löw. Photo: DPA

“There are certain players that I want to see tested against the best,” Löw said ahead of the meeting in Cologne with Les Bleus, whose 2-0 victory in the Euro semifinals was Germany's last defeat.

Löw sees this week's matches, against England and France, as a chance to try things out in preparation for the World Cup. He plans to use the spring internationals, against Spain and Brazil, to bed in his lineup for Russia.

“England and France are the measuring sticks for us,” Löw said Friday evening after the world champions drew 0-0 at Wembley. “I want to see where certain players are. That was more important than the result.”

“I think France are a little better than England,” he said. “France have an extremely fast attack and midfield and are more dangerous in front of goal than England.”

At Wembley, Germany dominated the first half and created several chances but faded in the second half.

“We need to move forward quicker after winning the ball,” Löw said.

“That's something we need to work on.”

On Tuesday, Loew will test some players whose places in the World Cup squad are not assured, such as fullbacks Marcel Halstenberg of Leipzig and Marvin Plattenhardt of Hertha Berlin. He is also keen to see strikers Amin Younes of Ajax and Lars Stindl of Mönchengladbach against the French.

Löw is also likely to recall several World Cup winners: Toni Kroos and Sami Khedira, who were rested against England, and the man who scored the 2014 World Cup winning goal Mario Götze, who is returning after a long struggle with injury and illness.

Since losing to France in the Euros, Germany are unbeaten in 20 matches, three short of their record, set between 1979 and 1980. 

READ ALSO: Munich locals disgruntled after Scottish football fans make mess of central square

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”.

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

SHOW COMMENTS