By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, July 3 (Xinhua) -- It only took five days for Joachim Low to decide to continue as Germany's head coach. After the reigning world champions' disastrous group stage exit at the 2018 World Cup, the 58-year-old had said he had to think about his future.
According to several media reports, Low has now informed the German Football Association (DFB) that he is prepared to face the new challenges and fulfill his contract that runs to 2022.
After Germany finished bottom of Group F to be eliminated in the World Cup group stage for the first time in its history, Low shut himself away at his home in Freiburg near the Swiss border. The country's fans and media were all eagerly awaiting his decision.
Photos appeared of the coach sitting in cafes and driving around the Black Forest in his classic black Mercedes convertible.
Low's decision may be good news for the DFB, with no suitable successor in sight. Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool), Thomas Tuchel (Paris St. Germain), Ralf Rangnick (RB Leipzig), former Borussia Dortmund coach and Bayern Munich sporting director Matthias Sammer, and former Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes were all unavailable.
The DFB had set a deadline for Low to make a decision, though neither party has yet confirmed the latest media reports.
After a weekend in isolation, the first hints about Low's future came from his circle of friends, who said he did not want to retire after such a great disappointment.
The World Cup-winning coach will now have to face the biggest challenge of his career. After 12 years in charge, during which he reached at least the semifinal of five major tournaments, the former striker talked about the need to make radical changes.
After the Russia debacle, Low has come under fire from both Germany's media and former international players. Critics said he had relied too heavily on his 2014 World Cup heroes, some of whom are said to have passed their peak. Low was also accused of ignoring the signs of complacency and a lack of motivation among the more established players.
Low and general manager Oliver Bierhoff were also said to be divided on other issues, such as the location of the team's headquarters in Russia. While Bierhoff favored Vatutinki, near Moscow, Low wanted to stay in Sochi in southern Russia.
Low is now said to want to prove the 2018 World Cup was just a blip. The coach will now have to find a successful combination of established players and up-and-coming prospects. Low could not solve this conundrum in Russia, and the team lacked the necessary team spirit.
The German team was also accused of having no clear game plan in Russia. Low was criticized for not selecting youngsters like Leroy Sane (Manchester City) and instead relying on old hands like Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Sami Khedira (Juventus) and Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), many of whom seemed tired mentally.
At home, Low was asked by the DFB and several former and current international players to carry on and start preparing the team for the 2020 European Championships. These positive messages are said to have helped convince Low to stay, as he is aware he will be under enormous pressure right from the start.
"There are several reasons why we couldn't perform as we wanted in Russia, all are my responsibility," the coach commented. He is expected to consider Germany's young talents for his future team.
Fans and media alike are demanding the association changes its approach, as it stands accused of having lost contact with supporters due to excessive commercialization around the German team. The public was excluded from nearly every training session, ticket prices are said to be too high and kick-off times too late.
Germany's next competitive game will be against France on September 6 in the newly-formed Nations League.
