Goal.com

Die Mannschaft's trainer is concentrating on qualification for the 2014 World Cup, but has conceded that their recent European Championship exit was hard to take

Germany coach Joachim Low has spoken of the pain he experienced following his side's defeat to Italy in the semi-final of Euro 2012, after having hopes of winning the tournament.

The 52-year-old took charge of the national side in 2006 and quickly began to rejuvenate the squad, putting a firm emphasis on using young players.

In his first major competition, Euro 2008, Germany were runners-up to Spain, before then finishing third at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Their decent performances at those two tournaments made them one of the favourites going in to the recent European Championship in Poland and Ukraine, but they were knocked out at the semi-final stage by a Mario Balotelli-inspired Italy side.

Ahead of their upcoming friendly with Argentina, Low has spoken of his anguish caused by that loss.

"We wanted to go to to the World Cup in 2010 in South Africa and begin forming a team that could then win this title [Euro 2012], so the loss in the semi-final against Italy was particularly painful," he told reporters at a press conference.

"We now have the task of working on the errors we made at Euro 2012, and find solutions to those errors over the next two years. We went on this path a few years ago, and we have a long-term plan to which we will stick.

"Before the Italy game we had won 15 [competitive] games in a row - a world record. We will stay on this path, with a few minor changes.

"You have to try and draw lessons from criticism with humility. Some criticism, though, was not productive, I think.

"Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Miroslav Klose and some others have done what I expected of them, and been perfect. But to the public watching on television, they weren't winners on the pitch. We are all proud of this team for everything they have done, and are doing, for integration in Germany."

Low then spoke of his aims for the future: "My coaching staff and I are going foward full of motivation, and we are eagerly anticipating the challenges ahead. The overall goal is, of course, qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil."

When asked how he felt about Germany's impending friendly against Argentina on August 15, he said: "We're very excited. I will make many changes for the match."