Germany coach Joachim Loew insists the world champions have no Italian complex as die Mannschaft attempt to break their Azzurri curse in Saturday's Euro 2016 quarter-final
Joachim Loew
Evian (France): Germany coach Joachim Loew insists the world champions have no Italian complex as die Mannschaft attempt to break their Azzurri curse in Saturday's Euro 2016 quarter-final.
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Joachim Loew
In eight previous attempts, Germany has never beaten Italy in the finals of a major tournament and will need to make history Bordeaux to reach the semi-finals.
"We have no Italian trauma," Loew told reporters at the German's training base in Evian.
"We don't have any fear of them, just trust in our own skills. For me that's cold coffee. I'd rather have a fresh espresso. We'll see how it tastes on Saturday," he added when reminded of Germany's previous results against Italy on the big stage.
Loew has experienced Germany's pain first hand as assistant manager when Italy spoiled their World Cup party on home soil in 2006 and four years ago when a Mario Balotelli double took the Azzurri to the final of Euro 2012 at Germany's expense.
Yet, Loew says he learnt his lesson from that defeat and his inability to restrict Italian Andrea Pirlo, before leading Germany to a fourth World Cup two years later. "Everyone makes mistakes, I wanted to shut Pirlo down and looking back, one must say the plan didn't work," admitted Loew.
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