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No fear
Germans oozing confidence going into Mexico match
Posted: Sunday June 28, 1998 05:03 PM
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Juergen Klinsmann (right) and Oliver Bierhoff will lead the German attack against Mexico (AP) |
NICE, France (AP) --
Juergen Klinsmann was so confident, he sounded even cocky. The message,
basically, was: Mexico, start
packing your bags. "If we move up a gear and if we win
one-on-ones, then I'd like to see that team that's going to beat us,"
Klinsmann said Sunday, before the Germans flew from Nice to Montpellier to
face Mexico in the second round Monday. But the Mexicans did
not seem overly impressed by their opponents' performance so far.
"I'm glad we're playing the so-called greats. We're not afraid of them.
On the contrary, we look forward to the game," midfielder Jesus Arellano
said. "Germany is one of the big ones, but we know we can beat them."
"When it comes to all or nothing, we can always show our qualities,"
Klinsmann said. Strong words from the captain of the German
team that has plodded into the second round, playing some of the dullest
soccer of all 16 qualifiers for the second round. But the European champion
did win its group and the Germans grow as the tournament gets longer.
"One or two things are not working so well," coach Berti Vogts said.
"We have to come better over the flanks and our midfield is not working
well." The German team's game depends on high crosses for
Klinsmann and Oliver Bierhoff to head into the net. And although the
Germans have not shined, both strikers have two goals apiece already.
"Our defense is playing very well and the strikers are scoring their
goals," Vogts said. "But the midfielders have to provide more support."
Vogts was a bit more cautious about Mexico than his captain.
"We have been warned. They came back in every game, and they
showed very good morale. I am not surprised. I was sure that Belgium would
not make it," Vogts said. Mexico rallied from two-goal deficits
against both Belgium and the Netherlands
to earn 2-2 draws. It also beat South Korea
3-1 after falling a goal behind. Klinsmann said his team had
respect for Mexico. "They showed character and will and they
have a pair of decisive players. But ... in difficult situations, we are
able to show our strengths," he said. "In these KO games, there is nothing
to fix any more, if you lose, you go home. Such pressure situations give us
an extra push." If the Germans haven't been entirely convincing
so far, history speaks for them: three World Cup titles, three more finals.
The Germans have played Mexico twice in the World Cup, winning
6-0 in 1978 in Argentina and
4-1 on penalties after a goalless quarterfinal clash on Mexican soil in
1986. Mexico may be an underdog, but it can only draw
inspiration from its courageous performances. "We're not
thinking about revenge. We want to advance, to see how far we can go,"
Mexican coach Manuel Lapuente said. "We respect Germany as a
soccer made of strength and power. But respect does have its limits. We are
ready and we'll try everything to win," Lapuente said. Mexico
relies on Luis Hernandez, who has been one of the stars of the tournament
with his late-goal heroics -- 3 goals so far -- and his partner Cuauhtemoc
Blanco. Vogts is not expected to make any major change in the
lineup that finished the match against Iran.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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