Bierhoff urging Germany to shine
Saturday 20 June 2009
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Oliver Bierhoff enjoyed his own spell as an Under-21 international (©Getty Images)
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Senior national team general manager Oliver Bierhoff has reminded Germany that the Under-21 side is "a stepping stone towards the senior team", with he and senior coach Joachim Löw having both spent time supporting Horst Hrubesch's men in Sweden.
Future prospects
Former striker Bierhoff, who spent the best years of his playing career in Italy with Ascoli Calcio, Udinese Calcio and AC Milan, joined Löw in Sweden to encourage the U21s at the start of their 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship campaign. The duo witnessed Germany's 2-0 defeat of Finland after their goalless draw with Spain, and with the side now needing a point against England on Monday to reach the semi-finals, Bierhoff was eager to remind the players of the significance of the tournament to their footballing futures.
Stepping stone
"The U21 Championship has become more much more important," he said. "It is a stepping stone towards the senior team. You only have to take a look at past finals and see the great players, world-class players, who were voted Player of the Tournament or made their first big impressions here. Our players have already taken note of that. This is a nice stage for everyone to shine on."
Famous names
The likes of Rudi Völler, Luís Figo, Petr Čech and Klaas Jan Huntelaar all glittered at previous finals and Bierhoff added: "Players like Jürgen Kohler and Lothar Matthäus used the U21s as a springboard to make it into the senior German side. There is a lot of competition in the senior ranks, but the U21 Championship is a chance for the players to prove themselves."
Close links
The senior team is not lacking in more recent examples to follow either, with 21 of Germany's 23-man squad at UEFA EURO 2008™ having initially earned their stripes at U21 level. "There was a watershed in 2004, when we took a lot of young players like Per Mertesacker, Philipp Lahm or Bastian Schweinsteiger straight into the senior side," explained Bierhoff. "We have brought the U21s and the senior side closer together again."
Fond memories
Capped 70 times at senior level, during which time he plundered 37 goals, the EURO '96™ winner remembers his own time as a U21 player fondly. "Berti Vogts was my coach, and that helped me when he took charge of the senior side. Back then, I barely played in the Bundesliga and Vogts always used to say: 'Oli, you can give it all you got today as you'll have plenty of opportunity to rest at the weekend.'" He added with a smile: "That didn't really help much.
Lasting friendships
"Back then, the U21s and the senior side travelled together sometimes, and this was how I first met Franz Beckenbauer. I met many players with the U21s who I would play alongside for my whole career and formed close relationships. The same is happening here at the moment with this team."
Rich tapestry
The fact that the team features players from such diverse backgrounds is also a great advertisement for the new Germany: nine of the eleven players who started against Spain boast foreign ancestry of some kind. "It is nice that these players play for Germany and identify with this country," said Bierhoff. "Players from other backgrounds and ways of playing enrich our game."
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