Kahn playing for keeps
Monday, June 21, 2004
Article summary
Captain Oliver Kahn is determined to prove that Germany have what it takes to beat the Czech Republic and remain in Portugal.
Article body
Captain Oliver Kahn is confident Germany will join the Czech Republic in the quarter-finals regardless of who Czech coach Karel Brückner selects for their Group D match on Wednesday.
Brückner teaser
With the Czech Republic already sure to finish top of the section after victories against Latvia and the Netherlands, Brückner has announced that he will rest key players against Germany. But for Kahn, the make up of the Czech team is immaterial. "We have come here to get a job done and I am absolutely sure that the match against the Czech Republic will not be our last game here in Portugal," the veteran goalkeeper said.
'Attacking football'
"Before the start of the tournament we set ourselves the goal of reaching the quarter-finals and I am sure we will succeed. The Czechs love to play attacking football and they sometimes leave themselves open at the back. They definitely won't get as many chances against us as they did against the Netherlands and Latvia - and we'll hopefully cash in on the chances we create."
Goal shy
Scoring has been Germany's greatest problem thus far, with Torsten Frings' fortuitous opener in the 1-1 draw against the Dutch all Rudi Völler's side have to show for their efforts in front of goal. Germany created few chances in their dispiriting goalless draw with Latvia on Saturday despite starting with both Kevin Kuranyi and Fredi Bobic up front.
'Scoring positions'
Völler is now considering reverting to a 4-5-1 formation in an attempt free up more space for playmaker Michael Ballack. "We must get him into scoring positions and the tactics worked well against the Netherlands, so it is a possibility," assistant coach Michael Skibbe said. "But as we don't know what we'll be up against we would like to keep the Czechs guessing too.
'Difficult job'
"We all know how things stand in the group and we realise that we have got a difficult job to do. We are under more pressure than they are and we have to worry about their lineup more than they will have to worry about ours. We don't really know what to expect. He [Brückner] might play his best side, he might rest key players. Every other coach would make use of the same option."
Special motivation
But Kahn, for one, is expecting to come up against Brückner's strongest side. "Let's face it - every team in the world likes to beat Germany and I am sure that the Czechs feel exactly the same way," he said. "I think they are bluffing at the moment and that we will find ourselves up against their best team."
Schweinsteiger injured
Germany will be keeping their fingers crossed that they too can field their strongest eleven after revealing that impressive youngster Bastian Schweinsteiger has joined the list of injured players.
Fitness race
"Dietmar Hamann and Bernd Schneider were both injured against Latvia and Bastian Schweinsteiger picked up a calf injury in training yesterday. But I am optimistic that they will all be fit for Wednesday," Skibbe said.