It’s our Low road to top
LUKAS PODOLSKI says the reason Germany have had such success in international football is that, in Joachim Low, they have had a great coach for more than 10 years.
And the former Arsenal striker has put the boot into Gareth Southgate’s England by saying they will do well in tournaments – until they meet Germany.
Podolski makes his final appearance for his country when he captains the side tonight before quitting Galatasaray for Vissel Kobe in Japan at the end of the season. Podolski, 31, will win his 130th cap after making his debut in 2004.
Under Low, who took over in 2006, the Germans won the World Cup in 2014 and were semi-finalists in 2010, beaten finalists at Euro 2008 and semi-finalists in 2012 and 2016.
Podolski said: “We have had a great coach for more than 10 years and the consistency is very important.
“England have young promising players and they can get far in tournaments – as long as they don’t face Germany.”
With Southgate, England are on their sixth coach – including Stuart Pearce, who took charge for one game as caretaker – in that same period.
Low has attacked Jose Mourinho’s treatment of Bastian Schweinsteiger.
The former Germany captain, below, annnounced yesterday he that is leaving Old Trafford for Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire on a £3.6million-ayear deal.
He has not made a single league appearance this season and Low said: “We had contact a few weeks ago and I know he tried everything in training but he could not make it to the first team.
“I’m sure, since I have seen some of Manchester United, that Bastian could have helped in central midfield. Mourinho decided otherwise, so it is a good opportunity to end his career with a new experience.”
Germany will be without injured trio Mesut Ozil, Julian Draxler and Mario Gomez. TWO YEARS ago Jake Livermore’s career was hanging in the balance after he tested positive for cocaine.
Today he is back in the England squad and hopes his story proves there is always a chance of redemption.
Livermore, 27, had turned to drugs and alcohol to numb the pain of losing his baby boy, Jake, at birth the day after he played in the 2014 FA Cup final.
He was banned but his suspension was rescinded by the Football Association when the reasons became clear.
This is a footballer who now tours schools and junior football clubs warning of the dangers and temptations that can face well-paid young men in professional sport: the drugs, the alcohol, the hangers-on.
Ahead of tonight’s friendly against Germany, the West Brom midfielder spoke with strength and dignity about his past and believes there is always a way back.
Which is why he talks to the kids at schools and why he contacted Bournemouth’s Harry Arter, whose baby daughter was stillborn in December 2015. The two have now become friends, with both going through happier experiences when Livermore’s partner gave birth to a son, Jayce, last year and Arter’s wife gave birth to a daughter, Raine, in February.
“The path I was going down was to deal with disappointments in life,” says Livermore. “Everyone has their own story.
“Harry at Bournemouth has and I’m over the moon he’s now out the other side. I did reach out to him, if there was any point when he needed me. We became good friends.
“People forget footballers are human beings too. The manager, Gareth Southgate, had a meeting and he said we are very much people. He shared his career with us, the disappointments.
“Football was a platform for me to propel my life. I have children now and I want to show them that they can be proud of their dad.” Livermore’s only previous England appearance was as a substitute in a friendly against Italy in August 2012. At one point it looked that would be it. “I thought England was gone for me,” he says. “But the manager seems to pick players on form. I’m thankful for that. Hopefully I can do myself, the people who helped me and my country proud. I just wanted to get back into club football and put a positive spin on my career for those who stuck by me. Having this chance to repay them is great.” Livermore, who joined Albion from Hull in January, is setting up a charitable foundation. “There are too many people to mention who helped me. “Obviously my family, Hull were fantastic and the FA have remained so. Now we are doing our best to work with others who may need anything. I like