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maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 4 JULY 2018 21 Loew to stay on as Germany coach despite World Cup flop Honda and captain Hasebe call time on international career after Japan's World Cup exit GERMANY coach Joachim Loew will stay in his post to lead a national team overhaul after the current world cham- pions crashed out in the group stage at the World Cup in Rus- sia, the German Football Fed- eration (DFB) said yesterday Loew's contract runs until 2022, having been extended for two years in May. But his side's shock exit in Russia after defeats to Mexico and South Korea and a solitary win over Sweden had sparked specula- tion about whether he would keep his job. "We are all firmly convinced that with Jogi Loew, we have a national coach who will ana- lyse (the situation) very pre- cisely, take the right steps and lead our team back on the road to success," DFB president Re- inhard Grindel said in a state- ment. Grindel said Loew would pre- sent his analysis of what went wrong before the team's next international on Sept. 6 against France for the newly created Nations League. The 58-year-old has been in charge for 12 years, having tak- en over after the 2006 World Cup. In 2014 he led Germany to their fourth World Cup title. He had previously been an assistant to his predecessor Juergen Klinsmann from 2004- 2006. Loew, who prior to Russia had led his country to at least the semi-finals in all major tourna- ments, said he was "very grate- ful for the confidence that the DFB continues to place in me." "My disappointment is equal- ly big, but I want to start the reconstruction with all my strength. I will now analyse everything with the team, we will have talks and (I) will draw my conclusions prior to the season start in September." Germany's first-round World Cup exit was its earliest in 80 years. The international ca- reers of several of its 2014 champions, including Mesut Ozil, Sami Khedira and Jerome Boateng, remains in doubt. Loew has been in charge for 165 matches, winning 108, more than any other Germany coach. Until a few years ago his team were an indomitable attacking force, and their 7-1 demolition of Brazil in the 2014 World Cup semi-final was considered a remarkable achievement. But they managed just two goals in their three group matches in Russia to exit the tournament in shame, leaving German fans, used to much greater success, bitterly disap- pointed. KEISUKE Honda and cap- tain Makoto Hasebe have an- nounced their retirement from international football following Japan's elimination from the World Cup at the hands of Bel- gium on Monday night. Honda, 32, came off the bench late in the last-16 clash with Roberto Martinez's side, but was unable to prevent his side from slipping to an agonising 3-2 loss. "Today we showed how we can proceed as Japanese foot- ball," the former AC Milan mid- fielder told reporters after the match. "I might have finished my ca- reer for the national team, but I'm happy because we have many young players following us, and I think that they will make new history for Japanese football." Japan held a two-goal lead in the 52nd minute following strikes from Genki Haraguchi and Takashi Inui, but Jan Ver- tonghen and Marouane Fel- laini levelled the scores before Nacer Chadli's injury time goal secured a dramatic win for Bel- gium. "This is the last World Cup for me," Honda added. "That's the reality. To be perfectly honest, I wanted to take everyone to the next round but I couldn't get the job done. I did everything I could. I did the best I could. "Belgium deserved the win, but we also played as well as we possibly could. I just want to thank my team mates." Honda, who scored 37 times in 98 appearances for his coun- try, was used as an impact player off the bench in his third World Cup and had a couple of chances to grab a winner for Japan before the dramatic de- nouement. "We had talked about the score being even if and when I entered the game, but I couldn't come through," said Honda. "I've always said if you're in this competition you should be in to win it, and I hope the younger generation of players carry on that spirit." Hasebe, once heralded by for- mer Japan head coach Alberto Zaccheroni as one of only two "true captains" he had ever managed along with Paolo Mal- dini, has also decided to step down from international duties. The midfielder, who plays in Germany for Eintracht Frank- furt, made 114 caps for Japan. "I would like to express my gratitude to my colleagues who fought together for about 12 and a half years since 2006, and to all the Japanese people who supported me so much," the captain said in a post on Insta- gram. "The time I walked with you is an important treasure for me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!," he added. "Last but not least, I am also a supporter of the national team. Let's dream about the Japanese national team together." Japan's squad was one of the oldest at Russia 2018, with an average age of over 28. With the majority of the squad set to be over 30 years old for the next World Cup in 2022, a new generation will need to pick up the mantle left by the likes of Honda and Hasebe. Keisuke Honda Makoto Hasebe