BERLIN, Feb 5 - Germany coach Joachim Loew has
denied that there was ever a verbal agreement to extend his
contract beyond the 2010 World Cup finals.
The German FA (DFB), who in December said a verbal agreement
had been reached for an extension, said on Thursday negotiations
were now on ice until after the World Cup starting in June.
"There was never any handshake agreement," Loew told
Kicker's website (www.kicker.de) on Friday.
"We (Loew and team manager Oliver Bierhoff) have
deliberately avoided saying anything concrete about the contract
situation in the last few weeks.
"We are surprised about the way in which the alleged
contract details have suddenly come out into the open. A lot of
untruthfulness has come into circulation."
Loew said he and Bierhoff were focused on the World Cup in
South Africa.
"Our entire concentration has been on the success of the
national team and with it the development and reputation of
German football," said the coach.
On Thursday, DFB president Theo Zwanziger said: "In
principle both sides are interested in continuing the good
cooperation but could not agree on important aspects.
"That's why we came to the common conclusion to abandon the
negotiations and to concentrate solely on preparations for the
World Cup."
(Editing by Tony Jimenez)