Germany deny Loew no-show was pitch protest

Germany Saturday insisted coach Joachim Loew’s no-show at a World Cup press conference was not in protest at a ban on training at the stadium to be used for the clash with England.

Germany instead sent goalkeeping coach Andreas Koepke to speak to reporters at Bloemfontein’s Free State stadium, hosting the last-16 tie on Sunday.

A team spokesman said because the team had had to train elsewhere, due to problems with the pitch, Loew could not get to the news conference in time.

“It’s not a protest at all,” Koepke said.

Koepke said Germany would have liked to have trained at the stadium but said England would also be denied the opportunity, so it would be the same for both sides.

Under FIFA regulations the head coach has to be at the pre-match press conference.