Vogts Names Bierhoff as New Germany Captain
September 3, 1998 - 0:0
VALLETTA Germany Coach Berti Vogts on Tuesday appointed AC Milan striker Oliver Bierhoff his new captain as he begins a phase of post-World Cup rebuilding. Vogts, preparing for two friendly matches in Malta this week, said he had chosen 30-year-old Bierhoff to succeed Juergen Klinsmann despite his recent public criticism of the coach. Bierhoff had told a newspaper the communication between the coach and the team had to be improved.
He also said players needed more security and signs of confidence from Vogts. We talked about this. Oliver was misunderstood, Vogts told a news conference. As far as I'm concerned there were no communication problems. Bierhoff also sought to play down his remarks. It was just about little things to do with organization. The players often weren't informed enough during the World Cup. But the whole matter has been dealt with, he said.
This week's games against the host country and Romania are Germany's first since they were beaten by Croatia in the World Cup quarterfinals and mark a new beginning for Vogts. A host of long-serving German stars such as Klinsmann, Juergen Kohler, Lothar Matthaeus and Andy Koepke have hung up their boots since the shock defeat in Lyon and the coach named eight newcomers in his squad for the Malta trip.
But Vogts is more likely to opt for gradual change rather than a radical shakeup in his team to face Malta on Wednesday. Bayer Leverkusen's Stefan Beinlich looks like being the only previously uncapped player to start the match. Experienced names such as Ulf Kirsten, Mario Basler and Bierhoff will line up alongside players with a few caps such as Joerg Albertz of Glasgow Rangers and Leverkusen's Jens Nowotny. Controversial midfielder Stefan Effenberg is set to make his much-heralded return after a four-year absence.
The Bayern Munich playmaker has not played for Germany since Vogts sent him home in disgrace for making an obscene gesture to fans at the 1994 World Cup in the United States. But Vogts said he had still considered him for the captaincy before deciding in favor of Bierhoff, a late developer who shot to prominence in three years with Italy's Udinese. He went down in history two years ago, scoring the golden goal which gave Germany victory over the Czech Republic in the European Championship in England. Bierhoff was top scorer in the Italian first division last season with 27 goals and moved to Milan in the close season.
(Reuter)
He also said players needed more security and signs of confidence from Vogts. We talked about this. Oliver was misunderstood, Vogts told a news conference. As far as I'm concerned there were no communication problems. Bierhoff also sought to play down his remarks. It was just about little things to do with organization. The players often weren't informed enough during the World Cup. But the whole matter has been dealt with, he said.
This week's games against the host country and Romania are Germany's first since they were beaten by Croatia in the World Cup quarterfinals and mark a new beginning for Vogts. A host of long-serving German stars such as Klinsmann, Juergen Kohler, Lothar Matthaeus and Andy Koepke have hung up their boots since the shock defeat in Lyon and the coach named eight newcomers in his squad for the Malta trip.
But Vogts is more likely to opt for gradual change rather than a radical shakeup in his team to face Malta on Wednesday. Bayer Leverkusen's Stefan Beinlich looks like being the only previously uncapped player to start the match. Experienced names such as Ulf Kirsten, Mario Basler and Bierhoff will line up alongside players with a few caps such as Joerg Albertz of Glasgow Rangers and Leverkusen's Jens Nowotny. Controversial midfielder Stefan Effenberg is set to make his much-heralded return after a four-year absence.
The Bayern Munich playmaker has not played for Germany since Vogts sent him home in disgrace for making an obscene gesture to fans at the 1994 World Cup in the United States. But Vogts said he had still considered him for the captaincy before deciding in favor of Bierhoff, a late developer who shot to prominence in three years with Italy's Udinese. He went down in history two years ago, scoring the golden goal which gave Germany victory over the Czech Republic in the European Championship in England. Bierhoff was top scorer in the Italian first division last season with 27 goals and moved to Milan in the close season.
(Reuter)