Germany boss Loew under pressure for Dutch, French tests

Joachim Loew faces the toughest tests of his 12-year tenure as Germany head coach in the forthcoming Nations League matches away to the Netherlands and world champions France.

After earning himself some breathing space following a 0-0 draw with Didier Deschamps' France in Munich last month, Loew must take points from the Dutch on Saturday in Amsterdam, and French in Paris next Tuesday, to restore his tarnished reputation.

His former captain Michael Ballack turned on him this week, claiming he was "surprised" Loew kept his job in the wake of Germany's World Cup debacle when they crashed out after the group stage.

Jurgen Klinsmann, Germany's head coach with Loew as his assistant at the 2006 World Cup, also ramped up the pressure by saying a semi-final berth at the 2020 European Championship is now a "minimum requirement".

"It's expected 'Jogi' will redeem himself with victories and by reaching the semi-finals of the next Euro," Klinsmann told magazine Sport Bild.

The former striker, 54, says his post-World Cup conversations with Loew convince him that the 58-year-old still has the necessary "hunger" to succeed.

Unusually, Loew, who steered Germany to the 2014 World Cup title, has yet to face the press this week, leaving Toni Kroos to defend him on Thursday from Ballack's criticism.

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