- Title: GERMANY: GERMAN SQUAD PREPARES FOR VITAL WORLD CUP PLAY-OFF AGAINST UKLRAINE.
- Date: 12th November 2001
- Summary: DORTMUND, GERMANY (NOVEMBER 12, 2001) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. PLAYERS ENTERING THE TRAINING GROUND, DIDI HAMANN LEADING, BEHIND HIM 2. TOTTENHAM HOT SPURS PLAYER CHRISTIAN ZIEGE 3. FANS WATCHING IN THE STADIUM 4. COACH RUDI VOELLER WITH OLIVER BIERHOFF ON THE PITCH, PLAYERS RUNNING ROUND 5. GERMAN ASSISTANT COACH MICHAEL SKIBBE ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE, THE PHOTOGRAPHERS 6. SOUNDBITE (German) ASSISTANT COACH MICHAEL SKIBBE SAYING: "Let us stress again: we all want to make the World Cup. The entire team during these very difficult times is ready and wants to do everything it possibly can to enter the World Cup in Japan and South Korea. But we need 90, maybe 120 minutes, maybe penalties and we need the undivided support of people." 7. THE NEWS CONFERENCE 8. PLAYERS STRETCHING 9. GOALKEEPER OLIVER KAHN PRACTISING CATCHING THE BALL 10. PLAYERS RUNNING AROUND THE PITCH 11. SOUNDBITE (German) ASSISTANT COACH MICHAEL SKIBBE SAYING: "Oliver Bierhoff still has an excellent record for scoring goals. If you look at the internationals in comparison to the scored goals -- and he is also very strong with head balls -- it is very possible that he will be the one to pave us the way towards the World Championship. I believe in that case Franz Beckenbauer might withdraw what he said but I believe before a game it would be smarter to support your players." 12. JOURNALIST READING NEWSPAPER 13. OLIVIER BIERHOFF RUNNING WITH PLAYERS 14. SOUNDBITE (German) DIDI HAMANN SAYING: "I think its one of the prettiest stadiums in Germany and spectators here have the right to see an important game. I think for years they have proven to be the best fans in Germany. The atmosphere is always fantastic and I think if the fans are in good spirits I am optimistic that it end well for us." 15. JOURNALISTS LISTENING 16. SOUNDBITE (German) DIDI HAMANN SAYING: "I think it would be too simple to blame the media. I am happy about it because there are warnings that it's not over yet." 17. THE NEWS CONFERENCE 18. PLAYERS RUNNING TOGETHER 19. THE STADIUM INSIDE Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 27th November 2001 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: DORTMUND, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Reuters ID: LVA7DKRV9OF3TOQ90OH82IPC2UR5
- Story Text: German World Cup winners of the past are convinced that
the current side will survive their playoff battle with
Ukraine to make next year's finals in Japan and South Korea.
Germany drew with Ukraine 1-1 on Saturday (November 10)
in the first leg of the playoff.
Ukraine went 1-0 up after 17 minutes but the German's
equalised in the 31st minute and the match ended 1-1, giving
Germany an advantage for the second leg in Dortmund on
Wednesday (November 14).
Assistant coach Michael Skibbe spoke at a news conference
on Monday (November 12).
"Let us stress again: we all want to make the World Cup.
The entire team during these very difficult times is ready and
wants to do everything it possibly can to enter the World Cup
in Japan and South Korea. But we need 90, maybe 120 minutes,
maybe penalties and we need the undivided support of people,"
he said.
Skibbe indicated that Oliver Bierhoff could play against
Ukraine on Wednesday.
"Oliver Bierhoff still has an excellent record for scoring
goals. If you look at the internationals in comparison to the
scored goals -- and he
is also very strong with head balls -- it is very possible
that he will be the one to pave us the way towards the World
Championship. I believe in that case Franz Beckenbauer might
withdraw what he said but I believe before a game it would be
smarter to support your players," he added.
Germany have suffered a traumatic qualifying campaign in
which they missed out on automatic qualification after a 5-1
home defeat by England.
Player Didi Hamann is looking forward to playing at
Dortmund's stadium.
"I think its one of the prettiest stadiums in Germany and
spectators here have the right to see an important game. I
think for years they have proven to be the best fans in
Germany. The atmosphere is always fantastic and I think if the
fans are in good spirits I am optimistic that it end well for
us," he said at the news conference.
Germany, who have never failed to qualify for a World Cup
finals, had their qualifying campaign derailed after a 5-1
defeat by England and a frustrating 0-0 draw with Finland.
"I think it would be too simple to blame the media. I am
happy about it because there are warnings that it's not over
yet," Hamann added.
Some have suggested that failure to qualify might be a
good thing because Germany would then be forced to build a new
team and rethink the way they play football.
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