The Hindu : Germany cast in unfamiliar role

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 01, 2002

Sport

Sport - Football

Germany cast in unfamiliar role

TOKYO MAY 31. Ireland is not only up against a fast, strong team when it takes on Cameroon in its opening World Cup match on Saturday at Niigata. It also faces the challenge of re-inventing itself on short order after the tumultuous departure of its only star, Roy Keane, who was sent home last week after an obscenity-laced tirade against Coach Mick McCarthy.

``We're missing our best player in Roy, and obviously that's disappointing,'' said Matt Holland, who along with fellow midfielder Mark Kinsella will be asked to help fill the gaping hole left by Keane. ``There's pressure on myself and Mark to perform in the World Cup.''

In Cameroon, the reigning African champion, Ireland faces what could be its toughest opponent in Group E. Cameroon's flashy offence will surely press Ireland's stingy defence, anchored by goalkeeper Shay Given and veteran Stephen Staunton.

``They're very strong and physical. Lots of diagonal balls,'' said Holland, who plays for Ipswich. ``That will certainly make life very difficult. It's going to be a tough game.''

Up front, McCarthy is probably going to rely on young, speedy strikers Damien Duff and Robbie Keane to counter Cameroon's high-powered offence. Come Saturday in Niigata, the Irish will find out if they have been able to put behind them all the off-the-field distractions. For nearly a week after McCarthy dismissed Keane, it seemed he might rejoin the team in Japan, but the critical apology from Keane never came.

Not exactly an ideal build-up to Ireland's first World Cup game in eight years. Duff bluntly described his experience so far as ``not nice.''

Ireland won its last World Cup opener, shocking Italy 1-0 in 1994. That year, it got to the second round before losing to the Netherlands.

Four years earlier, in its first World Cup, Ireland stunned the world by getting as far as the quarterfinals, where it lost to Italy.

Despite all the turmoil over Keane, McCarthy says he's pleased with his players' attitudes and workouts this week in Izumo, a farming town 100 km north of Hiroshima. ``They've been focused on what they're doing,'' he said. ``I can't compliment them enough.''

Cameroon isn't taking Ireland any more lightly without Keane. In fact, his absence could strengthen the resolve and unity of the Irish team, says Cameroon defender Lucien Mettomo.

For its part, Cameroon has also had a somewhat rocky build-up to the World Cup. A pay dispute and air travel delays caused the team to arrive five days late in Japan.

The two teams have never played each other before. Even though Cameroon may come at Ireland with a 3-5-2 formation, McCarthy says he's sticking with the 4-4-2 that got his team through a tough qualifying run in which it knocked out the mighty Dutch.

``We qualified playing 4-4-2 against everything,'' McCarthy said. ``We played wonderfully well.... Why do it differently? That suits us. We're a good team when we play that way.''

McCarthy is also pleased that a midfielder Jason McAteer, who injured his knee last week in a warm-up game, seems to be healthy. A knee injury to Kinsella, another key midfielder, also seems to be clearing up.

No replacement for Keane

On Thursday, FIFA rejected an appeal by the Irish squad to replace Keane's spot on the 23-man roster with Colin Healy, a midfielder who plays for Coventry City in England's Premier League, because Keane's departure was not injury related.

Also in the same group, a German side shrouded in pessimism and cast in the unfamiliar role of World Cup also-rans launches its campaign against Saudi Arabia at Sapporo on Saturday.

In World Cups gone by, Germany would have viewed Saturday's fixture at the space-age Sapporo Dome as little more than a light workout ahead of the more strenuous challenges of the later rounds.

Germany's injury problems

But erratic form at internationals over the past few seasons and a cruel injury toll which has robbed coach Rudi Voeller of several key players means Germany can no longer take any opposition for granted.

Bayern Munich playmaker Sebastian Deisler, clubmate Mehmet Scholl, Bayer Leverkusen central defender Jens Nowotny and Dortmund defender Christian Worns were all struck down before the tournament began. To make matters worse, Voeller has seen star midfielder Michael Ballack struggle to shake off a nagging foot injury and defender Marko Rehmer expected to start on the bench.

Nevertheless, Voeller is hoping Germany can get off to a flying start against the Saudis, although he was cautious about his team's chances of progressing after the quarterfinals.

``We want to begin like we did in 1990 when we beat Yugoslavia 4-1 in the first game,'' said Voeller, referring to Germany's successful Italian campaign in which he took part as a striker. ``But it's up to us to beat this team, and we'll go all out from the start to silence our critics,'' he said.

While Voeller wants to draw a line under the gloomy forecasts he admitted he was surprised that assistant Michael Skibbe had predicted Germany would reach the final.

``He really said that? Well, I think we will try and get to the quarterfinals and after that anything can happen,'' said Voeller, who singled out Saudi goalkeeper Mohamed Al-Deayea and striker Sami Al-Jaber as the key men for Germany's opponents.

Uruguay's concern

Uruguay has only one thing on its mind — controlling the speed of Denmark in their World Cup opener on Saturday in Ulsan, South Korea. Denmark and defending champion France have been installed as the favourites in Group B where Uruguay and Senegal are also grouped.

Diego Forlan, who moved to Manchester United this season from Independiente de Argentina, knows the Danes and the European style of play. ``Like all the European teams, Denmark is quick and strong. We have to be careful not to let them kick the long ball because they have quick wingers who can chase it down.''

Midfielder Gustavo Varela tried to build his club's confidence by reminding that the South American side had won the World Cup twice — 1930 and 1950.

``We have to remember one thing. Uruguay is a great soccer country and we have always played an important role. I think on Saturday we will find Denmark plays the system we are most familiar with.''

Uruguay's key forward Alvaro Recoba, who left the training ground on Tuesday with a right knee injury, seemed better on Wednesday.

But team spokesman Heber Gonzalez said ``the hard training pitch'' didn't help the injury.

Recoba, who plays for Inter Milan, warned his teammates. ``We can't gamble, that could kill us. Winning means we'll advance, losing makes everything tougher.''

Coach Victor Pua said he wasn't sure if Uruguay was among the favourites in the group. ``I don't know if we are favourites or not,'' he said. ``We'll find out on the field who is better. We're ready to have a good World Cup.''

Pua is having trouble getting his midfield set with Fabian O'Neill set to miss out with a left heel injury and be replaced by Gianni Guigou.

``It's a shame about O'Neill because he is a very good playmaker and a great player, but we have other great players,'' Pua said.

Today's matches

Ireland v Cameroon, noon.
Uruguay v Denmark, 2.30 p.m.
Germany v S. Arabia, 5 p.m.

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