German Soccer's Golden Age

Germany coach Joachim Löw on Monday hailed the young German soccer players discovered during the 2006 World Cup as the dawn of a new golden age for the national side.

Germany finished third in the World Cup on home soil thanks to young players including Bayern Munich trio Philip Lahm, 23, Bastian Schweinsteiger, 22 and Lukas Podolski, 21, as well as Werder Bremen defender Per Mertesacker, 22.

Löw, who took over from Jürgen Klinsmann after the World Cup, said he believes these are the players who could take Germany to their fourth World Cup title in 2010.

Young stars still developing skills

"With young players like Lahm, Schweinsteiger, Podolski, Mertesacker, over the upcoming years we'll have the equivalent of a golden generation," Löw said at a 2006 World Cup wrap-up meeting in Frankfurt. "These players have progressed considerably during the year -- they have matured physically, tactically and technically, but they have still not achieved their true potential and development."

"I believe that with them, and all the young players who can enter into our philosophy of play, we have some of our best years ahead of us," Löw said. "We have the ability in the team now to play at a high level for a number of years to come."

Team manager Oliver Bierhoff added that a good showing in front of the home crowd during the World Cup proved to Germans that they could be proud of their team.

"2006 allowed Germany to rediscover their national team -- the Nationalmannschaft is once again the cherished child of Germany," Bierhoff said. "Germans identify with this young team -- friendly, smiling and ambitious."

EURO 2008 the goal for 2007

The team will have its first chance to show off its ambition next year during the qualification round for the 2008 European Championship in Austria and Switzerland.

"Qualification for EURO 2008 is the most important goal for 2007," Löw said. "We want to make the deciding step as soon as possible."

Löw pointed out that Germany won 14 of 18 matches in 2006 and achieved their best start to a qualifying campaign for an international tournament by winning their first three matches, including a 13-0 victory against San Marino, its highest-scoring win in a match outside of Germany.

New players get chance to make a mark

As Germany's chances for qualification improve, Löw said he wanted to continue integrating new players into the national team, adding that he was keeping an eye on between 12 and 15 potential new stars.

"We've taken a very close look at the perspective players," said Löw, mentioning Mario Gomez, Stefan Kiessling and Gonzalo Castro. "A new generation is coming up that could leave its mark on the game."

But Bierhoff said the team knew there was still much work to be done and expectations to be fulfilled before it could book victories at the European Championships and ultimately at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

"We've moved up the FIFA world ranking table from 17th place to sixth," Bierhoff said. "That places the bar very high."