SOUTH KOREA: GERMAN CAPTAIN OLIVER KAHN CONFIDENT OF WORLD CUP VICTORY AGAINST BRAZIL

Record ID: 640770

  • Title: SOUTH KOREA: GERMAN CAPTAIN OLIVER KAHN CONFIDENT OF WORLD CUP VICTORY AGAINST BRAZIL
  • Date: 27th June 2002
  • Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (JUNE 27, 2002) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PRESS CONFERENCE BY GERMAN GOALKEEPER OLIVER KAHN (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN GOALKEEPER AND CAPTAIN OLIVER KAHN SAYING: "They're probably the best team in the world in terms of individual players with exceptional people in every position. But the team with the most gifted players do not always win." MORE OF PRESS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (German) KAHN SAYING: "I have all due respect for Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo, who are fantastic players, but they still have to beat me." VARIOUS OF PRESS CONFERENCE Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 12th July 2002 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
  • Country: South Korea
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA10TXU70XSMIPIWSL9M5WDBCQZ
  • Story Text: Germany's captain, Oliver Kahn, believes his team will tame Brazil in Sunday's World Cup final.
    Kahn says Germany need to play the game of their lives against Brazil in Sunday's World Cup final -- and he is optimistic they will do so to become champions.
    Kahn, one of few who had predicted that Germany could have a great tournament, said on Thursday he could see the triple world champions' revival taking them to their fourth title.
    "I've got a feeling telling me that we will be the world champions," said the goalkeeper, who was instrumental in his side's run to the final. "I can't really explain why."
    But there was a condition and that was Germany stepping up a gear to rise to the occasion.
    "Every one of us has to play the game of his life," the German skipper said.
    The Bayern Munich keeper was full of praise for Brazil, whom Germany have surprisingly never met in the showcase tournament's 72-year history, but he sounded as confident as ever.
    "They're probably the best team in the world in terms of individual players with exceptional people in every position.
    But the team with the most gifted players do not always win."
    His words echo those of Germany coach Rudi Voeller, who is a great Brazil fan but knows from experience that brilliance alone does not win titles.
    "If the best team always won the World Cup, then Brazil would have won it 14 times, not just four," said the former Germany striker, who lifted the trophy in 1990.
    Expecting a festival of fluent, attacking football on the Yokohama pitch might be too much to ask for, said Kahn.
    "Finals are often decided on small things, sometimes on luck. It may be that the teams will neutralise each other, like what happened in 1994," he added, referring to Brazil's win over Italy on penalties after an uneventful match in the World Cup final.
    Kahn said he was aware Brazil had artists capable of scoring at any time but the 33-year-old, who has conceded just one goal so far in the finals, did not sound too worried.
    "I have all due respect for Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo, who are fantastic players, but they still have to beat me," he said.
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