Oh, German efficiency.
Joachim Low has made sure that trend continues as the current German national team coach has extended his contract past the 2022 World Cup.
The deal was announced on Tuesday, the same day Low released his 27-man preliminary roster for the 2018 World Cup as favorites Die Mannschaft aim to defend their crown from 2014.
Low, 58, was linked heavily with the Arsenal job in recent months but with his previous contract with the German FA (DFB) running through the summer of 2020, it always seemed likely he would stick around in the international game.
With so many fine young players throughout his player pool, it would be quite daft for Low to step away now, unless anything disastrous happens this summer.
Here it is! 📋 The provisional #DieMannschaft squad for the 2018 #WorldCup! 🇩🇪🏆 #ZSMMN pic.twitter.com/7HxNQaeU8s
— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) May 15, 2018
Low has led Germany to the European Championship final in 2008, the World Cup semifinal in 2010, the European Championship semifinal in 2012, a World Cup trophy in 2014 and then the European Championship semifinal in 2016, as well as winning the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia last summer.
Not a bad haul...
This really does seem like a perfect match for Low and Germany and going into this summer there’s no doubt it will be incredibly tough for them to replicate their success of four years ago, but you can sure as heck bet they will be there or thereabouts when the semifinals roll around in Russia.
Manuel Neuer recovering fully from injury will be key to Germany’s success this summer, so to will Mesut Ozil hitting top form, but they’re so stacked, especially in midfield and attack, that Low must be licking his lips at the thought of unleashing his hungry, young squad.
Low has built something truly incredible with Die Mannschaft and it appears he will stick around for at least another World Cup cycle. For the rest of world soccer, that is a truly demoralizing thought.
