体坛英语新闻：German head coach Joachim Loew extends contract

BERLIN, July 20 (Xinhua) -- German national coach Joachim Loew extended his contract for two years, the German Football Association (DFB) said Tuesday.

Joachim Loew and his assistants Andreas Koepke, Hansi Flick and Oliver Bierhoff agreed on a two-year contract after talks with DFB President Theo Zwanziger and DFB General secretary Wolfgang Niersbach.

"I'm happy for the German football that we have made a significant personnel decision. Since 2004, the German football modified positively thanks to promotion of young players and the hallmark of Joachim Loew and his team. DFB President Theo Zwanziger said.

"Therefore it was my main objective to extend the contract with Joachim Loew and his team ," he added.

Loew and his team will accompany the German national team to the European championship 2012 in Poland and Ukraine.

"We are all happy that we can continue the work with the national team, but to accomplish objectives it is necessary to keep up the hard and consistent work. The close collaboration with sports director Matthias Sammer is also very important ," Loew said after the signing.

In 2004, Loew started as co-trainer of Juergen Klinsmann who retired after the world championship 2006.

Loew took over in 2006 and introduced his assistant Hanis Flick into the German national team. Since then Loew sent the German national squad to the European championship 2008 in Switzerland and Austria, and they were lost to Spain at 1-0 in the final.

Lately, the German squad lost the semifinal at the World Cup matches in South Africa 2010 against Spain 1-0.