* Loew set to extend deal until 2014

* Has been in charge since 2006

(updates with more quotes, background)

MUNICH, Germany, March 15 (Reuters) - Germany coach Joachim Loew is likely to extend his contract with the national team until 2014 only months after signing a new deal until 2012, the 51-year-old said.

“The possibility (of extending to 2014) is very high. I think we want to avoid a situation like 2010 with the decision coming after the World Cup. We want to avoid that at the Euro 2012,” he told Sport Bild magazine in an interview to appear on Wednesday.

The German football federation (DFB) could not be reached for comment.

Loew extended his deal to 2012 days after leading Germany to a third-place finish at last year’s World Cup in South Africa but contract speculation in the German camp at times overshadowed some impressive performances on the pitch.

“All parties dealt with this situation well but still the (contract) issue was constantly present during the World Cup and as I said we want to avoid that in 2012,” Loew said.

“We see good prospects for the team with our young players, the federation has agreed to our concept so we can assume that the road will go past 2012, because the Euro is only a step toward the World Cup in Brazil in 2014.”

Loew, 51, took Germany’s youngest World Cup team in 76 years to South Africa with injured captain Michael Ballack missing.

They flourished despite Ballack’s absence, scoring four goals apiece in wins over old rivals England and Argentina on their way to the semi-finals where they were beaten 1-0 by Spain.

Loew was assistant to Juergen Klinsmann for two years and took over as senior coach when Klinsmann decided not to renew his contract after the 2006 World Cup.

He led Germany to the final of Euro 2008, which they also lost to Spain.

Germany are on track to qualify for Euro 2012, topping their qualifying Group A with 12 points from four games