World Cup squad cut will hurt, says Germany's Loew
Germany coach Joachim Loew admitted two players are going to be "hurt" when he finalises his World Cup squad in the next two days.
Loew was to sit down with his training staff Sunday and Monday to decide which of the two players from his squad of 25 will be left out.
He used 17 players in all in Saturday evening's 3-0 win in Budapest over Hungary, who were little more than sparring partners for the Germans.
"We will consider what is the best combination. We can only take 23 players and it will hurt for two players," he said.
Loew said he took a lot of positives from the win over Hungary thanks to goals from Lukas Podolski (penalty), Mario Gomez and Cacau.
"Despite the loss of Michael Ballack I can see potential, also with the young players," he said.
"We have a team in which a lot of players do not have a lot of experience, but have potential. How the young players react in extreme situations at a World Cup is difficult to forecast."
Loew will for the first time on Monday have his complete squad in full training, including new captain Philipp Lahm, vice-captain Bastian Schweinsteiger and Thomas Mueller, who were rested against Hungary.
He has to name his 23-man squad by the deadline Tuesday.
Germany, who are up against Australia, Serbia and Ghana in Group D in South Africa, have a last test before the World Cup when they play Bosnia-Herzegovina in Frankfurt on Thursday.
Loew was to sit down with his training staff Sunday and Monday to decide which of the two players from his squad of 25 will be left out.
He used 17 players in all in Saturday evening's 3-0 win in Budapest over Hungary, who were little more than sparring partners for the Germans.
"We will consider what is the best combination. We can only take 23 players and it will hurt for two players," he said.
Loew said he took a lot of positives from the win over Hungary thanks to goals from Lukas Podolski (penalty), Mario Gomez and Cacau.
"Despite the loss of Michael Ballack I can see potential, also with the young players," he said.
"We have a team in which a lot of players do not have a lot of experience, but have potential. How the young players react in extreme situations at a World Cup is difficult to forecast."
Loew will for the first time on Monday have his complete squad in full training, including new captain Philipp Lahm, vice-captain Bastian Schweinsteiger and Thomas Mueller, who were rested against Hungary.
He has to name his 23-man squad by the deadline Tuesday.
Germany, who are up against Australia, Serbia and Ghana in Group D in South Africa, have a last test before the World Cup when they play Bosnia-Herzegovina in Frankfurt on Thursday.
