Löw expecting to scratch 12-year itch

Coach Joachim Löw is confident Germany's 12-year wait for a UEFA European Championship win will soon be over as he counts down to Sunday's opener against Poland.

Winless run
Despite being among the UEFA EURO 2008™ favourites, Germany have not won a finals game since beating the Czech Republic to triumph at EURO '96™ – having bowed out without a victory at both UEFA EURO 2000™ and UEFA EURO 2004™. "I think we will end this streak," said the 48-year-old, adding: "I am thrilled that we are finally ready to go. All our thoughts have revolved around the EURO for weeks. Every night before I go to bed I think about whether I did everything I wanted to do, whether the team and every player knows what they have to do. It is, after all, the most difficult tournament there is."

Burgeoning form
Löw, though, is sure his players are hitting peak condition just in time for their Group B curtain-raiser in Klagenfurt. "Many of the players have shown an enormous improvement in their performances," he said. "Michael Ballack is in good form, Miroslav Klose has been extremely good over the last few days, and you cannot forget Torsten Frings who has found top form after a tough season," said the trainer. He also gives Germany's rearguard his stamp of approval despite recent criticism. "I have been pleased with Christoph Metzelder in training," he said. "He was injured for a long time and needed to reach deep into his reserves in the friendly matches against Belarus and Serbia. But he has recovered and he's been unbelievably positive just like Per Mertesacker and Arne Friedrich. The back line is getting better every day."