Germany coach Joachim Low has no regrets about naming Lukas Podolski in his World Cup squad, despite criticism levelled at the Cologne striker this week.
Former Germany goalkeeper Uli Stein accused Podolski of being "lazy" and said he was not the only person of that opinion. However, Low has defended the 24-year-old, who has scored just two Bundesliga goals this season.
"Certainly Lukas has not had his best season this year and you can both see and feel that, but it would be absolutely wrong for somebody to call him a lazy player," he said in a press release from the Germany national-team sponsors Mercedes Benz.
"I experience him totally different to that here with the national team.
"From the very first day that he was here with us, he has trained with the highest motivation.
"I think his performances for the national team and his goals ratio say it all and I know him as highly motivated and enormously engaged and highly performing."
Source: PA
