Loew expects Germany to peak at 2014 World Cup

Germany coach Joachim Loew said Wednesday that he expects his team, third at this summer’s football World Cup, to peak at the 2014 tournament in Brazil.

“We have a hard core for the future. There are a lot of changes to make and this team should evolve to its maximum potential for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil,” Loew told Sport Bild magazine.

After the withdrawal of Michael Ballack, Simon Rolfes and Heiko Westermann because of injuries before the South African tournament, Loew lined out with a young and inexperienced side which made a big impression.

Newcomers Manuel Neuer, Mesut Ozil, Sami Khedira and Thomas Muller, the top scorer and best young player of the tournament, blended with veterans such as Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Lukas Podolski and Per Mertesacker, who are themselves aged between 24 and 26 years.

Concerning Ballack, who missed the World Cup with an ankle injury, Loew stopped short of guaranteeing the 33-year-old a place in the qualifiers for Euro 2012 in Poland and the Ukraine.

“Michael has always been an important player in the squad, we now have to see how he comes back. What’s good for us in the current situation is that we’re spoilt for choice,” added Loew.

Germany play Denmark in a friendly in Copenhagen on Wednesday without Ballack and the majority of the World Cup team.