NETHERLANDS: GERMAN COACH ERICH RIBBECK SAYS VETERAN LOTHAR MATTHAEUS WILL PLAY AGAINST ENGLAND IN THEIR CRUCIAL EURO 2000 GROUP A MATCH

Record ID: 649121

  • Title: NETHERLANDS: GERMAN COACH ERICH RIBBECK SAYS VETERAN LOTHAR MATTHAEUS WILL PLAY AGAINST ENGLAND IN THEIR CRUCIAL EURO 2000 GROUP A MATCH
  • Date: 15th June 2000
  • Summary: VAALS, NETHERLANDS (JUNE 15, 2000) (REUTERS TELEVISION - NO ACCESS THAILAND AND INTERNET) 1. WIDE OF PRESS CONFERENCE 2. GERMAN NEWSPAPER WITH PHOTO OF MANAGER ERICK RIBBECK 3. (SOUNDBITE) (German) MANAGER EIRCK RIBBECK SPEAKING 4. CUTAWAY JOURNALISTS 5. (SOUNDBITE) (German) STRIKER ULF KIRSTEN SPEAKING 6. CUTAWAY INJURED STRIKER OLIVER BIERHOFF 7. (SOUNDBITE) (German) STRIKER CARSTEN JANCKER SPEAKING 8. PHOTOGRAPHERS 9. (SOUNDBITE) (German) OLIVER BIERHOFF SPEAKING 10. JOURNALISTS TAKING NOTES 11. (SOUNDBITE) (German) BIERHOFF SPEAKING 12. WIDE PRESS CONFERENCE Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 30th June 2000 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: VAALS, NETHERLANDS
  • Country: Netherlands
  • Reuters ID: LVA6D5ANRH08396MG6ZLJE87DTZS
  • Story Text: Germany coach Erich Ribbeck, under pressure to drop
    Lothar Matthaeus, said the controversial libero would stay in
    his Euro2000 squad but he would make several changes for the
    crucial Group B match against England on Saturday (June 17).



    Germany coach Erich Ribbeck had spoken to Lothar
    Matthaeus and the libero would be staying with the national
    team.

    "I have spoken to him and as you can see he is still
    here," Ribbeck said on Thursday (June 15) after press reports
    that Matthaeus had asked to be sent home following heavy
    criticism of his performance in the 1-1 draw with Romania on
    Monday (June 12).

    Ribbeck said that following Wednesday's (June 14) training
    injury to captain Oliver Bierhoff, Ulf Kirsten would play up
    front with Carsten Jancker against arch-rivals England.

    Goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, 31 on Thursday, will be German
    captain for the Charleroi game.

    "There will be two or three more changes but I don't wish
    to get into that now," said Ribbeck.

    It remains to be seen whether Matthaeus, who was
    repeatedly caught out of position on Monday and was
    substituted in the second half, will start the match against
    England.

    Jens Nowotny said he would be happy to marshall the
    defence if he was asked but Ribbeck hinted the 39-year-old
    Matthaeus would get another chance to prove his worth if he
    could show in training that he was 100 percent fit.

    Matthaeus, playing in the last major tournament of his
    148-cap career, was reported to have offered to quit.

    "I asked the team chief to retire and told him it was the
    best solution if I was to be a burden to the team," he was
    quoted as saying by German daily Bild on Thursday (June 18).

    "If they don't want me any more, I will go home without
    any fuss," he added.

    Former East Germany striker Kirsten, set to play his first
    match in a major tournament at 34, said he had recovered from
    the back injury which forced him to miss the game against
    Romania.

    "It still hurts a bit when I make an odd movement but I'm
    sure it will be all right," he said. "I'm really excited."
    The towering Jancker was asked to comment on a remark by
    his Bayern Munich club president Franz Beckenbauer, who said
    he might not be the ideal striker to face England.

    "Beckenbauer also said that Bayer Leverkusen would be
    champions," Jancker said.

    Leverkusen entered the final Bundesliga programme with a
    three-point lead but were beaten into second place by Bayern
    on goal difference.

    Bierhoff, who tore a muscle in his right calf and will
    miss the two remaining group matches, against England and
    three days later against Portugal, said he had been surprised
    by the report.

    "I read it in the papers, just like you," he said. "I
    didn't have the impression that Matthaeus wanted to leave. On
    the contrary, he looked like he was determined to stay.

    "Anyway, he's still with us and that's all that matters.

    The rest is already yesterday's news."
    Bierhoff sustained his injury while warming up for a
    chaotic training session in the German village of Breinig,
    home of German Football Federation (DFB) president Egidius
    Braun, which had to be interrupted after hundreds of autograph
    hunters invaded the pitch.

    "Obviously, I'm extremely disappointed," said Bierhoff. "I
    was really looking forward to playing England.

    "I have not had any major injury in five years and this is
    the first muscle injury in my entire career," said the
    32-year-old AC Milan striker.

    "I'm staying here to support the team. I hope we will go
    further and hopefully I will be able to play in the semifinal
    or in the final."

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