- Title: SOUTH KOREA: COACH RUDI VOELLER SPEAKS ON GERMANY'S WORLD CUP CHANCES
- Date: 28th June 2002
- Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (JUNE 28, 2002) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PRESS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN HEAD COACH RUDI VOELLER SAYING: "Now, Brazil, surely we have to keep in mind that we are forward-oriented team that we also have to switch into the attacking mode but not too openly because as you saw in a match with Turkey, Brazil have players capable of using any opportunity to counter-attack." VARIOUS JOURNALISTS MORE OF PRESS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (German) VOELLER SAYING: "With almost like prior to the previous matches, we would like to get into action tomorrow if we could, but clearly the Brazilians had their match one day later than us, so we have to wait for another day and play on Sunday. But it was palpable even at the training session yesterday, the players are burning to go." VOELLER RUNNING OUT OF CONFERENCE ROOM VARIOUS OF GERMAN TEAM'S BUS LEAVING HOTEL Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 13th July 2002 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
- Country: South Korea
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA58152PDUO749CFCZN3HYFCTPB
- Story Text: Germany will rely on their traditional virtues when they face Brazil for the first time in World Cup history in Sunday's final.
German's head coach Rudi Voeller said on Friday (June 28) morning that the team would paly offensively for the cup, but also watch out for their opponent Brazil's counter-attack.
"Now, Brazil, surely we have to keep in mind that we are forward-oriented team that we also have to switch into the attacking mode but not too openly because as you saw in a match with Turkey, Brazil have players capable of using any opportunity to counter-attack," coach Rudi Voeller told a press conference, just before the triple champions left their Seoul base for Yokohama which hosts the final.
Voeller lifted the trophy in 1990 after losing in the final four years earlier. Brazil have won four times.
Nothing fancy should be expected from the Germans, who have advanced to the big game in unspectacular fashion and realise they are blessed with less talent than their opponents.
But the coach said all his preferred players were ready to go despite minor injury worries.
"With almost like prior to the previous matches, we would like to get into action tomorrow if we could, but clearly the Brazilians had their match one day later than us, so we have to wait for another day and play on Sunday. But it was palpable even at the training session yesterday, the players are burning to go," said the German.
Top striker Miroslav Klose, who has scored five goals in the tournament, trained fully on Thursday despite a sore hip and should start up front alongside Oliver Neuville.
Goalkeeper and captain Oliver Kahn, who was instrumental in his side's run to the final by conceding only one goal, had to receive treatment on a painful neck during the session but Voeller said there was nothing to worry about.
There was a question mark over Carsten Jancker, who was fighting a bout of fever, but the Bayern Munich striker plays only a secondary part in Voeller's plans.
Midfielder Dietmar Hamann should take over the playmaking duties from the suspended Michael Ballack, who sacrificed himself to the cause with a bookable offence in Tuesday's 1-0 semi-final victory over South Korea in which he hit the winner.
The tireless Jens Jeremies should be handed Hamann's usual defensive role at the centre of midfield.
Voeller, who has kept experimenting with his defence, should pick the same back four he used for the semi-final, with Thomas Linke and Carsten Ramelow in the centre and Torsten Frings and Christoph Metzelder on the wings.
The coach, who has masterminded Germany's emergence from their worst crisis, looked a bit nervous but said he had experienced tougher situations since embarking on his mission two years ago.
As always, Voeller declined to drop any hints on his starting line-up. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
