Bayer Leverkusen defender repays faith of Germany coach

Joachim Low: Happy with his side after Denmark win

Germany coach Joachim Low believes his side are growing into the tournament after they qualified for the quarter-finals with a 100 per cent record.

Goals from Lukas Podolski and Lars Bender were sandwiched by a strike from Denmark's Michael Krohn-Dehli.

The win now sets Low's team up for a clash against Greece in the last eight, having finished Group B with maximum points.

"There is a certain maturing process that has happened so far this tournament," said Low.

Development

"We were not quite so good with the overall organisation. The team has gone through a development process."

Bender was the hero of the evening for the Germans as he calmly slotted home an 80th minute winner.

He was only in the team as a replacement for the suspended Jerome Boateng and has now given Low a selection headache with an assured display.

"It is something special for me," said Bender of his goal. "It's a wonderful present to come in top in this group.

Success

"There were positive spirits out there tonight. We were focused on getting a goal. It was a bit of luck that the ball came to me but you don't think a lot about it, you just shoot it in."

Despite scoring the vital goal for his country, the Bayer Leverkusen full-back refused to accept any individual praise and instead emphasised the importance of the team.

"The coach put his faith in me and I was relatively relaxed about it all," he added.

"I'm happy that I got to play tonight and it was crowned with a goal which is a great present for me. The important thing is that the team continues playing successfully and I'm happy to play."