Low: Euro failure no longer on players minds

Germany’s summer of footballing failure will not be preying on their minds as they kick off their World Cup qualifying campaign on Friday, coach Joachim Loew has promised. The Germans have been given a gentle start, with a home match against the Faroe Islands in Hanover, but even so are likely to be jittery after a traumatic four months. After Friday it gets more difficult, with a trip to neighbours Austria on Tuesday. “The players have put their disappointments behind them and there is real hunger for success,” Loew said. “That goes for the coaching staff as well.” Germany’s troubles began when Bayern Munich lost the Champions League final to Chelsea in their own Allianz Arena, going down on penalties after dominating the game. The national side then lost to Italy in the Euro 2012 semi-finals, continuing a run of near misses that include second place at the 2002 World Cup, third in 2006, third in 2010, and runners-up at Euro 2008.