Löw extends Germany contract

President of the German Football Federation (DFB) Wolfgang Niersbach confirmed Friday that coach Joachim Löw had extended his contract. Under the terms of his current deal, Löw had only been contracted to stay until the 2014 World Cup.

"We signed the contracts this morning," Niersbach told reporters.

"Since the 2006 World Cup, the national team has finished in the top four at each World Cup and Euro and they brilliantly qualified for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil."

"All credit must go to Joachim Löw and his team and the DFB wanted to show our confidence in them," the DFB president said.

Löw, 53, took over from Jürgen Klinsmann in 2006 after serving as his assistant for two years. Since then Germany made it to the final at Euro 2008, finished third at the 2010 World Cup and reached the semi-finals of Euro 2012.

World Cup hopes

Most recently the national side qualified unbeaten for the 2014 World Cup, coming top of their group. As such they now stand among the favorites for the tournament.

"I feel great motivation to develop the team further. We are still not at the end of our road, we still have great goals that we want to achieve together," Löw said Friday after news of the contract deal broke.

"We are convinced we will play a very good World Cup. We have a great team and will prepare well," he said. He added, however, it was too early to single Germany out as a favorite and "disrespectful" to top teams like Spain and Brazil.

"Spain has won the last three major titles, Brazil is playing at home, other teams have a lot of quality, details can be decisive," he said.

"But we will be going into the tournament with a very positive attitude and I can guarantee that we have a very hungry team. We'll be aiming for the biggest prize but we also have a very young team."

Under Löw, Germany has risen from 22nd in 2006 to second in the world rankings. Nevertheless a major title has evaded the national side since their Euro 1996 win in England.

ccp/ph (AFP, dpa, AP)