Loew: No major overhaul of Germany team after Euro

"It is clear that we will bring in new players, but there will be no full overhaul," Loew said.

 Loew said that captain Michael Ballack and Torsten Frings, both 31, "are still hungry for success" and that "Bastian Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm and Lukas Podolski are yet to peak." 

   He also said that 38-year-old goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has so far not announced his retirement.

 The core of Loew's team has been together since the 2006 World Cup where Germany finished third. The team then came second at Euro, losing Sunday's final 1-0 against Spain. 

   Qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa starts in September, with the Euro semi-finalist Russia Germany's toughest opponent in the group.

 Possible additions include youngster Marko Marin, Jermaine Jones and Patrick Helmes who were all dropped just ahead of Euro.

 Loew said "we can be proud" that Germany was the only nation to make the semi-finals at the 2006 World Cup and then at Euro as well.

 "We reached the final in a tournament played on the highest level. That is a big success. We have become stable in the past two years. But there is a lot to be improved," he said.

 But Loew said that Germany stood no real chance after a strong start once Spain got rolling on Sunday. He praised a Spanish team of world class players and said that "Spain celebrated its game."

   Asked whether he regretted any decisions he made at the tournament, Loew named the semi-final which Germany won 3-2 in the last minute over Turkey after being outplayed for most of the match.

 "I believe we should have better played with a 4-4-2 than with five men in midfield. We could have generated more pressure and wouldn't have had to suffer for so long."

   "But we got into the final, that's why nothing was wrong."

DPA