Loew is proud of his team but leaves his future open

Jul 11, 2010, 12:10 GMT

Erasmia, South Africa - Joachim Loew expressed immense pride in his Germany World Cup team on Sunday but left it open whether he will continue as coach.

Germany finished third the previous night with 3-2 victory over Uruguay and were set to return home later Sunday.

'We are enormously proud of the players,' Loew told a news conference on behalf of himself and his staff.

'We played like world champions although we missed the big coup ... The players acted like champions. They were admired not only in Germany but around the world.'

Germany impressed at the tournament with attacking football for big wins over Australia (4-0), England (4-1) and Argentina (4-0) before being stopped in the semi-finals by Spain.

Loew took the job in 2006 and said he will need two or three days rest before deciding on his future. German football supremo Theo Zwanziger, the players and most Germans want him to continue, with the next match, a friendly with Denmark, set for August 11.

'I will need a few days rest. Then I will consider whether I have the strength and energy to further move this team forward,' Loew said. 'There will be talks, and of course a decision has to be made in the near future.'

Meanwhile, German President Christian Wulff, who also attended the news conference, said that Loew will receive the Federal Cross Of Merit and the players the highest sports order, the Silver Bay Laurel Leaf later this year at a reception in Berlin.