A Year of Highs and Löw
The Passing of the Torch
Jürgen Klinsmann annoints Joachim Löw, his assistant throughout the World Cup 2006 campaign, as the new head coach of Germany on July 12, 2006. The former VfB Stuttgart player and coach is charged with leading the team to the European Championships in Austria and Switzerland in 2008.
Off to a Winning Start
Joachim Löw took the reins of the German national team for the first time as coach in a friendly match against Sweden in August 2006. The feelgood factor from the World Cup a month before continued and Löw did his bit to keep things on the boil by picking a team which put the Swedes to the sword in Gelsenkirchen. Germany ran out 3-0 winners.
Bad Luck for the Irish
Löw's first competitive game in sole charge of Germany came in September against the Republic of Ireland in a European Championship qualifier in Stuttgart. The campaign gets off to a flyer as Lukas Podolski scores the only goal against a plucky Ireland side.
San Marino Buried in Goal Avalanche
Löw took the opportunity of the next Euro 2008 qualifier against minnows San Marino four days later to unleash a new striking talent. Stuttgart's Mario Gomez took his chance and scored in the 13-0 rout in Nuremberg. Two games into qualifying and Löw was showing he was no poor man's Klinsmann.
Coach Retains Captain Fantastic
Löw saw no reason to give the captain's armband to anyone other than Michael Ballack when he took over as coach. The influential midfielder led by example in the Euro qualifier against Slovakia in October 2006 despite suffering the first effects of a highly publicized and criticized move to England with Chelsea. Löw's run of wins continued with a 4-1 victory, Ballack scoring the second.
Georgia on My Mind
Löw took the opportunity of the friendly match against Georgia in Rostock in October 2006 to blood a number of untried stars. The Germany coach used the game to run his eye over potential squad members with the European Championships in 2008 in mind. It was a pair of old hands that won him the victory, however. Bastian Schweinsteiger and Michael Ballack scoring one a piece in a 2-0 win.
First Dropped Points in Nicosia
Jögi's run of straight wins was ended in Cyprus in November 2006 as the home side came from behind to level the match 1-1 after Michael Ballack had given Germany the lead. The unflappable Löw remained cool, happy that his Group D leaders had come away with a point.
Ersatz Papa Preaches Manners
With the Euro qualifiers on hold, Löw took his young charges to the premiere of the World Cup documentary "Ein Sommermärchen". The Germany coach told the media that he wanted to not only train his young stars to be soccer gods but to be decent human beings off the pitch. Well groomed and well dressed, Germany's heroes did their coach proud.
Back to Business
After the winter break, Germany roared back into business with a hard-fought 2-1 win over the Czech Republic in March 2007. Löw brought Kevin Kuranyi back in from the international wilderness and the Schalke striker paid back his coach with both goals.
Experiment Backfires in First Defeat
Five days after the tough qualifier against the Czechs, Löw (seen here with assistant Hansi Flick) put out almost a completely new side for a friendly with Denmark. The experiment in terms of the result backfired with Germany losing 1-0 to a Nicolas Bendtner strike in the 81st minute but Löw was not too downbeat. He had seen much in his second and third string players to believe that the future was bright.
On the Road to Euro 2008
Neither coach nor players dwelt on the friendly defeat in March. In fact, when it mattered most, Germany delivered. The Euro campaign started up again in June 2007 and Löw's side made light work of San Marino again (6-0) and then beat Slovakia 2-1. A year after the World Cup began in earnest, Germany -- with a new coach and many new players -- were on course to challenge for the European title in 2008.
The Man with the Plan
Joachim Löw brings his first year as Germany coach to a close with only one defeat to his name and his team in an almost unassailable position at the top of their Euro 2008 qualifying group. Löw has brought in a host of young stars and is obviouly looking not just at glory in 2008 but for years to come. Germany looks very safe in his hands.