Loew regrets timing of German finale

Joachim Loew wishes the all-German UEFA Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund could have happened last year.

Twelve months ago, Bayern left their Allianz Arena home having suffered defeat on penalties to Chelsea in the showpiece event and Loew believes that result had a detrimental impact on his side’s Euro 2012 campaign.

Ahead of Saturday’s final at Wembley between Jupp Heynckes’ men and Jurgen Klopp Dortmund charges, Loew has said the positivity surrounding German football is a huge difference to the atmosphere following the final last year.

“This momentum would certainly have been good for us at the European Championship last year,” he told reporters on Wednesday.

“The self-confidence of the players is so incredibly large. This was markedly different from the European Championship.

“The disappointment of the Bayern players after they lost Champions League final in Munich was difficult to handle.

“We were missing that euphoria and lightness needed in order to get a major international title. Now the situation would be more favourable.”

Loew believes it is too early to say if Bayern and Dortmund’s excellence in continental competition will give the Euro 2012 semi-finalists a boost ahead of next year’s FIFA World Cup.

“This is a long process, as I think that maybe we are at the beginning of a changing of the guard,” he said.

Loew has been in charge of the German national side since 2006, with his contract set to expire after World Cup 2014 in Brazil.