Football Briefs: Loew admits mistakes in World Cup debacle

News of all that's transpired on and off the football field

Loew makes few changes to squad

Germany coach Joachim Loew admitted making several mistakes that contributed to their World Cup debacle but opted for only a handful of changes to the squad for next month's internationals, saying a balance of experience and youth was necessary.

Loew said on Wednesday that Germany, who were condemned to their earliest World Cup exit in 80 years after being eliminated following the group stage, should never have played their possession game in a knockout tournament as teams counter-attacked successfully.

He also said he failed to instil a sense of urgency and passion among his players who lost two of their three group matches.

Among the players called up for the Nations League game against France on Sept. 6 and the friendly against Peru three days later, are returning internationals Leroy Sane, Nils Petersen and Jonathan Tah as well as newcomers Kai Havertz, who is 19, Thilo Kehrer, 21, and 25-year-old Nico Schulz.

He also included Ilkay Gundogan, who was criticised for posing alongside Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan before the World Cup in a photograph which also featured Germany team mate Mesut Ozil. The episode caused a big furore and led to Ozil's international retirement after the World Cup.

Loew said Gundogan had suffered during the affair that overshadowed their World Cup campaign.

He also said experience was needed in his squad.

"Experience is a very important foundation even for a new start," Loew said. "And young, dynamic hungry players can help us in the important tasks ahead of us."

Winger Sane, who was voted the best young player in England's Premier League last season after helping Manchester City to the title, Petersen and Tah were all cut from the final squad that went to the World Cup in Russia in June.

Loew dropped midfielders Sami Khedira, a 2014 World Cup winner, and Sebastian Rudy from next month's matches but kept faith with several others who had underperformed in Russia, with 17 of the 23 players part of that squad.

"Possession in the league is import but at knockout events there needs to be an adaptation. That was my biggest mistake," Loew told reporters. "That I believed with this dominant possession game we will go through the group stage.

"It was almost arrogant of me. I wanted to perfect it, fine-tune this dominance even more. But every match is a knockout match. I should have realised that we needed to be less risky. Instead I demanded even more risk."

Germany's Loew repeatedly snubbed by Ozil after national team exit

Germany coach Joachim Loew said he was snubbed by Mesut Ozil after the midfielder abruptly retired from international duty following the furore over a photo with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan prior to the World Cup in June.

The 2014 world champions were left humiliated after they were condemned to their earliest World Cup exit in 80 years. They crashed out following the group stage having lost two of their three matches.

Ozil announced his international retirement shortly after returning from the tournament in Russia after being widely criticised for posing alongside Erdogan in a photograph which also featured Germany team mate Ilkay Gundogan in May.

Ozil, a member of the triumphant 2014 team, said he had faced "racism and disrespect" because of his Turkish roots.

Loew said on Wednesday he had failed in his attempts to contact the Arsenal midfielder and that he had been notified of Ozil's international retirement by the player's advisor.

"The player has not called me. In the past that was the case when players retired (from the national team)," Loew said.

Loew said after the advisor's call, he had called and messaged the player, without reply.

"Mesut decided on a different path. I repeatedly tried reaching him via message or phone but that was not possible. I have to accept that."

Former US captain Dempsey retires

Former United States captain Clint Dempsey has announced his retirement from professional soccer, his club Seattle Sounders said on Wednesday.

The 35-year-old ended a 15-year career, including seven in the English Premier League with Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur.

"After a lot of thought, my family and I have decided that this is the right time for me to step away from the game," Dempsey said in a statement.

"I'd like to thank all of the team mates, coaches and support staff that I've worked with throughout my career. It has always been my dream to make it as a pro. I'm grateful to have been on this ride.

"I would like to thank all of the fans who have supported me throughout my career with the New England Revolution, Fulham, Tottenham, Seattle Sounders and the U.S. Men's National Team. Y'all have always made me feel at home, and it is something that I will always remember."

Dempsey is tied with former team mate Landon Donovan as the all-time leading goalscorer for the U.S. with 57 goals in 141 appearances.

Bengaluru FC suffer 0-2 loss, out of AFC Cup

Bengaluru FC bowed out of AFC Cup after suffering a 0-2 defeat against Altyn Asyr FK of Turkmenistan in the second leg of their Inter-Zone semifinal at the Kopetdag Stadium in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on Wednesday.

The Turkmenistan side advanced to the next stage on 5-2 aggregate over the two legs. Bengaluru FC had lost 2-3 at home in the first leg.

Second half goals from Altymyrat Annadurdyyev and Vahyt Orazsakhedov settled the tie in favour of the hosts after the 'Blues' found the going tough in attack.

The Blues return to Bengaluru, where they will prepare for the opener of the 2018-19 Indian Super League, against Chennaiyin FC, at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on September 30.