Loew sets Germany bar high

Joachim Loew has warned his Germany squad that less than a full-throttle performance against the Netherlands will not suffice.

Germany cruised to a 3-0 victory over their north-western neighbours in a November friendly in Hamburg’s Imtech Arena, and the 52-year-old has urged his players to repeat that dominant performance ahead of their Euro 2012 clash.

“80 per cent is not good enough,” the former Fenerbahce boss screamed at his players after a misplaced pass in training, according to Kicker.

“You cannot do it when you only give 80 per cent. You must play like you did in Hamburg.”

Germany meet the Netherlands in Group B in Kharkiv on Wednesday.