Football's future is about scoring goals: Loew

Football's key issues have changed, said German national football team coach Joachim Low ahead of Euro 2020 qualification games against the Netherlands and Northern Ireland.

"Things have changed. It is not like it used to be when you inevitably won titles by counting on a strong defense," the 59-year-old commented. "The football of the future is about scoring goals."

Low admitted to having gained new conclusions in intense discussions with his coaching staff and national team manager Oliver Bierhoff after a poor performance at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, when his team suffered an early exit. "We had to set a new starting point and discover what the key points in football will be in the future."

The Germany coach said developing a player's cognitive skills is one of the national team's primary targets. Low said that "speed of action" and "making the right decisions in a short time" will decide tight games, with possession football a thing of the past.

The coach noted that his current squad is still a work in progress ahead of the European Championships in 2020. While his youngsters and new faces still need to grow together, "they have proved they are ready to take responsibility", but still must count on experienced forces providing stability.

Low called Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund) and Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City) his team's cornerstones, adding that he is expecting the quartet to lead the team "as they have a lot of experience and leadership quality."

The coach added that Germany is on its way back to being one of the world's top teams, saying he was unworried about its current lowly 15th place in FIFA's latest rankings.

"I feel a new team spirit and the euphoric atmosphere of a relaunch," he commented, with exciting youngsters such as Timo Werner (RB Leipzig), Serge Gnabry (Bayern), Kai Havertz (Bayer Leverkusen) and Julian Brandt (Borussia Dortmund) coming through.

"Everyone is waiting for the return of Leroy Sane who has developed into a vital performer at a very high level," Low said, adding that he was keeping his fingers crossed for a quick recovery, after the Manchester City forward suffered a knee injury that may keep him sidelined for several months.

Leipzig striker Werner is expected to replace Sane in both qualification games.