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Tired Germans take day off
Posted: Tuesday June 30, 1998 01:35 PM
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Bierhoff (left) and Klinsmann (right) have scored six of Germany's eight goals (AP) |
NICE, France (AP) --
After a light workout in the morning, the weary warriors of Berti Vogts got
a day off Tuesday to refresh their aging bodies from the exertions of a
come-from-behind victory over Mexico.
The Germans may be getting on in years, but after their 2-1 triumph Monday
it's on to the quarterfinals of the World Cup for a meeting with Croatia on
Saturday in Lyon. The players' average age is just under 30. "We did
it with German virtues," Vogts said after the game that was decided on
Oliver Bierhoff's header in the 86th minute. "We fought our way back into
the game." Mexico took the lead less than two minutes into the
second half on Luis Hernandez' fourth goal of the tournament. But captain
Juergen Klinsmann equalized for Germany in the
75th. Klinsmann and Bierhoff are carrying Germany with three goals
apiece, combining for six of Germany's total of eight. "They have to
be used even more," Vogts said. "Our forwards are working a lot when we
don't have possession." "I am not happy with our play on the flanks.
We have to work on them more, practice them. Or we should perhaps give them
up altogether. I hope they'll learn them some time," Vogts said.
Ever since arriving at the World Cup, the Germans have been practicing hard
on crosses. Vogts himself has said that each players must have hit at least
1,000 crosses in training. But in games, few crosses are accurate
enough to reach the danger area. Luckily for Germany, Klinsmann and
Bierhoff need few chances to score and will use any opening they can find.
"I should have scored in the first half, when I hit the bar,"
Bierhoff said. "But I think I score more off difficult situations than
simple ones." "I would have preferred, though, that we had made sure of
victory earlier in the game," said Bierhoff, who now has 20 goals in 30
games for Germany. His "golden goal" in 1996 gave Germany the European
title. Klinsmann, with 11 goals in three World Cups and 16 games, is
second on the all-time German list, behind Gerd Mueller's 14 goals in 13
World Cup games. Mueller scored a total of 68 goals for Germany in 62
games. Klinsmann shares second place with Rudi Voeller with 47. The
11 goals make Klinsmann equal with Sandor Koscis of Hungary. Mueller tops
the all-time World Cup list, Just Fontaine of France has 13 and Pele has
12. "I was hoping that I would have a possibility to score,"
Klinsmann said. "You always hope." Central defender Juergen Kohler,
who missed the game because of a strained calf muscle, will be fit for
Saturday. Midfielder Thomas Helmer also will be fit after receiving a knock
in his shins. The Germans had a little scare after the game in
Montpellier, when the special Air France plane carrying them back to Nice
had to abort its first takeoff because of unexplained mechanical problems,
team spokesman Wolfgang Niersbach said. The second takeoff went without
problems.
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