German FA wants to stick with coach Loew past 2018

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's football association (DFB) is eager to extend the contract of national team coach Joachim Loew past the 2018 World Cup, DFB president Reinhard Grindel said on Monday. Loew, who has been in charge since 2006, coached Germany to the 2014 World Cup title and to a total of five straight semi-final appearances at World Cups and Euros, with his current deal running to 2018 and the World Cup in Russia. The 56-year-old, in charge for 138 matches so far, saw his team fail to win Euro 2016 after losing in the semi-final stage to hosts France in July but after hesitating a few days eventually said he would stay on as Germany coach to 2018. "I said before the Euro that I can imagine a long-term collaboration (with Loew)," Grindel told Germany's Kicker magazine. "I have a very good relationship with Loew and if he wants to talk about his future then I am ready to do so any time." Grindel said Loew's success meant the coach could decide if and when he wanted to extend the deal. "Out of respect for our World Cup coach this is something he can decide for himself. If he wishes to do so only after the 2018 World Cup then I would tell him that this is the way we will do it," said Grindel, who took over the DFB presidency in April. "He has achieved so much and has earned that right." Germany kicked off the World Cup qualifying campaign with a 3-0 victory over Norway on Sept. 4 in their first Group C game. (Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; editing Amlan Chakraborty)