Bierhoff - Low won't go

Germany expect boss to be in charge for World Cup qualifiers

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 24th June 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Bierhoff - Low won't go

Low: Contemplated leaving

Related links

Teams

Also see

Oliver Bierhoff believes Joachim Low will remain in charge of the German national team regardless of the outcome in their Euro 2008 semi-final with Turkey on Wednesday.

Entering the European Championship as pre-tournament favourites put immediate pressure on Low to succeed, a situation hardly helped by a less than impressive progression through the group stages.

The experienced coach admitted in the wake of a 2-1 defeat to Croatia that he had contemplated walking away from the post, but having decided to stay on he has led his side to the last four.

A deserved 3-2 victory over much-fancied Portugal in the quarter-finals saw Germany back to their best and national team manager Bierhoff believes that Low has rediscovered his enthusiasm for the job.

"The semi-finals are a big achievement," he told Bild.

"He will continue regardless of how the Turkey game goes."

Keeper void

While Bierhoff is hoping that Germany will not be left with a managerial void to fill in the near future, the former striker admitted that his country may be in need of a new goalkeeper once their Euro 2008 campaign comes to a close.

The current occupant of that role, Jens Lehmann, is now 38-years-old and has only penned a one-year contract with new club Stuttgart, suggesting that he may not be around for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

"His contract at Stuttgart runs initially only for one year," said Bierhoff.

"But after the Euros we are planning already for the World Cup in 2010."