Rudi Völler announced the roster for next week's friendly: Tor Oliver Kahn FC Bayern München 15.06.69 55 - Jens Lehmann Borussia Dortmund 10.11.69 16 - Abwehr Frank Baumann SV Werder Bremen 29.10.75 12 2 Arne Friedrich Hertha BSC Berlin 29.05.79 3 - Sebastian Kehl Borussia Dortmund 13.02.80 13 2 Carsten Ramelow Bayer 04 Leverkusen 20.03.74 34 - Marko Rehmer Hertha BSC Berlin 29.04.72 29 4 Christian Ziege Tottenham Hotspur 01.02.72 71 9 Mittelfeld Michael Ballack FC Bayern München 26.09.76 31 12 Jörg Böhme FC Schalke 04 22.01.74 7 1 Torsten Frings Borussia Dortmund 22.11.76 18 2 Dietmar Hamann FC Liverpool 27.08.73 48 4 Jens Jeremies FC Bayern München 05.03.74 44 1 Lars Ricken Borussia Dortmund 10.07.76 16 1 Bernd Schneider Bayer 04 Leverkusen 17.11.73 20 1 Angriff Gerald Asamoah FC Schalke 04 03.10.78 16 2 Paul Freier VfL Bochum 26.07.79 4 - Carsten Jancker Udinese Calcio 28.08.74 33 10 Miroslav Klose 1. FC Kaiserslautern 09.06.78 23 14 Oliver Neuville Bayer 04 Leverkusen 01.05.73 38 4 Despite of huge public pressure Völler neither invited Bobic, Kuranyi or Lauth. The reason: "In the game against the Netherlands we want to bring this WC season to a good end, and certainly the WC roster has my full trust. This doesn't mean that it'll be different next year, cause then the cards will be mixed anew. Rivalry livens up the business, that's what a national player has to get along with. The one or the other might surely get his chance next year, if he shows constant good performances in the Bundesliga." Völler surely puts his team under pressure as the criticism of the last poor games slowly starts turning against him if he continues trusting the old players. Kahn surely doesn't belong to the best goalies at the moment, but it's okay to keep him. In the defence he's having Ramelow, Rehmer and Baumann who all play a rather poor season, plus Kehl who isn't even a regular starter. The midfield also can't convince with an out of shape an injured Böhme, struggling Frings and Jeremies and substitute player Ricken. And the offence section is entirely out of shape except Freier - Jancker meanwhile is without club goal since 18 months, Asamoah is not dangerous enough, Neuville admitted to not deserve a call at the moment and Klose is far away from last season's shape (though right to invite him).
Is Ballack is injured? Not really the most impressive side I'd have expected from Germany. Is Scholl also still injured? Reports had Voeller stating he did want a good end for the previous WC selection however the roster is a bit "weak" IMO, and I think a good end seems far from the in-evitable outcome... considering that Holland is bringing a very dangerous offense oriented squad.
I am routing for Holland on this one -- on account of my Dutch ancestry. Any idea who the Dutch will put on the field? Don't see any listing on soccertv.com that this will be shown in the USA. These things tend to come through on the Spanish channels within a few weeks after they are played, so I will keep my eyes out.
Boehme must have pictures of Rudi Voeller naked with Daum; how else can you explain why they guy ever gets called up to the national team?
Böhme was quite good last season, but he's always having some good weeks and then some bad ones. This year he's out of shape as almost all others Rudi called up. But that's exactly my criticism: the NT is the team for the CURRENT best players, not the formerly or potential best players.
Actually my suspicion is that Völler called the old guys having the huge success with him at the WC and just tells the people that it is a last time for bringing the season with the deserved players to an end. What he really hopes is that they bring a good performance as it is against the old rival Netherlands as afterwards he can say "look, I did the right choice, why should I name others". In that sense I'm not even sure if I'm rooting for Germany (I'm only doing if they are playing nice soccer or at least give everything anyway). Prediction? Can very well be that Germany fights a lot to keep a 0-0, but if the Netherlands are starting to be on a roll they'll win about 3-1
Ziege and Hamann remain in England with injuries. Völler thinks about calling a further player. kicker expected this team: Kahn - Friedrich, Ramelow, Rehmer - Böhme, Ballack, Hamann, Schneider, Frings - Klose, Jancker so Hamann would have to be replaced by Jeremies - or Freier in the offensive variation. Netherlands, expected lineup: van der Sar - Zenden, F de Boer, Stam, Ricksen - Davids, Cocu, van Bommel - Kluivert, van Nistelrooy, van der Meyde Also in the roster: Waterreus, Hofland, Reiziger, Bosvelt, Seedorf, van de Vaart, R de Boer, Hasselbain, Makaay Ref: Hugh Dallas
For Holland... ... van Bommel and Hofland have been scratched due to injury. Ooijer and van Bronckhorst have been called in to replace them.
Remember, players can handle the ball as much as they like as long as it is "unintentional"! Another Dallas classic on Saturday. A Dundee player is about to take a throw in, but he slips and the ball falls forward out of his hands. A foul throw. What does Hugh do? He lets the player take the throw again! --------- On a serious(ish) note, is Stefan Klos anywhere near getting into the German squad? He has been outstanding for Rangers this season so far.
No, Klos has no chance. Lehmann and Kahn are seeded as long as they are active. And if they retire Butt or Rost will move up until their career is over... performance alone doesn't count too much on the goalie position. But I guess there'd be some other before Klos as this position isn't really a problem in Germany with just 3 Bundesliga starting goalies from foreign countries.
Due to injuries Ramelow and Jancker were taken off the roster. New on the roster are: Hanno Balitsch, Bayer Leverkusen, 21, 0 caps Fredi Bobic, Hannover 96, 31, 19 caps (2 goals) For Bobic it is the comeback in the NT since a couple of years. According to kicker he is the best field player of the season so far; he scored 8 goals in 9 games for Hannover, which is more than all usually nominated strikers together.