Klinsmann backs Low to succeed despite Euro 2012 elimination

Jun 30, 2012 9:45:00 AM

The 47-year-old has leapt to the defence of his former assistant, insisting that while they missed out on Sunday's final, die Mannschaft are not yet the finished article

USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann has offered his backing to Joachim Low, who has come under fire following Germany's semi-final exit from Euro 2012 at the hands of Italy.

For a third time in four previous major tournaments, die Mannschaft were dumped out at the last-four stage, as a first-half double from Mario Balotelli was enough for the Azzurri to set up a final at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev with Spain.

Klinsmann, who fired Germany to their last international title at Euro 96 before coaching the national team to third place at the World Cup in 2006, insists the team are "nowhere near" realising their potential and should not be judged yet.

"It is clear that no matter how good a coach can be that it can automatically lead to success. The coach makes decisions before the game that are not at random." the former striker told Stuttgarter Nachrichten.

"They [the national team] are the result of [the coach's] observations and work. There is simply no guarantee of victory.

"This team are nowhere near the end of their development. They were the youngest team in the tournament, and again [we are] pushing more younger players into the set-up.

Germany will now regroup ahead of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, which start in September.

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