Germany's Loew to miss W. Cup draw in Rio

Germany coach Joachim Loew is set to miss the qualification draw for the 2014 Brazil World Cup in Rio de Janeiro on July 30, the German Football Federation (DFB) confirmed Wednesday. Loew will remain in Germany to watch his national players involved in the first round of the German Cup, which takes place the same weekend, as part of preparations for his team's friendly with Brazil on August 10 in Stuttgart. In his place, manager Oliver Bierhoff and team official George Behlau will fly to Rio to represent the DFB. "At the time of the draw, the interests of the national team's management are in demand, so the head coach won't be there," Behalu confirmed to SID, an AFP subsidiary, after a report in Sport Bild. Just a year after the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the preliminary draw for the 2014 tournament will take place on Saturday July 30 at 1500 local time on Rio's Copacabana beach at the Marina da Gloria harbour. From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, a total of 203 nations have signed up to compete for a place at Brazil 2014.