Loew boldly targets Euro 2008 victory

Germany coach Joachim Loew believes the attacking momentum Germany achieved at the World Cup can carry them through to victory in Euro 2008.

"The confidence we got playing with, and even dominating, some of the best teams in the world will stay with us and we can use it to our advantage," Loew said yesterday.

"The expectations are high, but I expect there will also be enough realism as well.

"Now we want to harvest at Euro 2008 what we failed to get - that means the European title," he said at his first news conference since replacing World Cup coach Juergen Klinsmann.

Boldly outlining his goals before his first match in charge, a friendly against Sweden in Gelsenkirchen on Wednesday, Loew said he would stick to the attacking game that worked well at the World Cup.

"We had a good World Cup but we didn't achieve what we set out to do," Loew said.

Italy beat Germany 2-0 after extra-time in their semi-final.

"We want to bring the European title back to Germany," said Loew, taking up where Klinsmann left off by setting high targets.

Germany start their campaign for Euro 2008, which will be hosted jointly by Austria and Switzerland, on September 2 against Ireland in Stuttgart.

Loew, only the 10th full time Germany head coach since 1923, said expectations have risen dramatically as a result of Germany's good World Cup performances after an at-times rocky run-up to the tournament they hosted.

"I'm not afraid or nervous at all ahead of the first match," he said.

"Not a lot has changed - except of course that I'll now be the first once criticised if things don't go well."