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FOERSTER: RUSSIA WOULD OUTPLAY SUCH GERMANY
After the end of the matches Russia vs. Wales - 2:1 and Finland vs.
Germany - 3:3 the Sport Express correspondent talked to one of the most
famous defenders in the history of German football, Karl-Heinz Foerster.
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Photo: english.sport-express.ru
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This outstanding player became the European champion 1980
and two times World vice-champion in 1982, 1986.
"In the match against Wales your team was very strong for the first
half an hour, played wonderfully despite this stupid penalty, siad Foerster.
"The thing that struck me most was how masterfully your players controlled
the ball. But after a good start Russia slowed down and at the beginning
of the second half they looked passive. Your footballers lost their game
themselves and therefore inspired confidence in the Welsh. The result
- you let in a goal."
"This is the problem of many teams from East Europe. They think that
the game succeeds and then relax. After all, the match lasts not thirty
minutes but ninety. And if your team faced a stronger opponent I don't
think they would have won. But it does not diminish the merits of your
team: in general their level is very high, there are lots of very technical
players in it."
"If German would play Russia this Wednesday (both in their current
forms) I am afraid Russia would have won. Your defence is much more stable
than in the German team. If we don't strengthen it we will suffer defeat
in Dorthsmouth next month. I don't think we would be able to score three
times in Akinfeev's goal."
"But the situation may change if Mertesacker will be back in defence,
Frings and Ballack in the midfield."
"We badly need Ballack and Frings now, as football is not only beautiful
attacks but the team must be balanced. And now we need a good qualified
defending midfielder."
"Klose performed very well and made a hat-trick. Thus he proved that
Joachim Loew was right to trust him and make him the top-forward of the
team."
"Comparing our teams I think that our goalies are almost equally
good. In midfield you have good halfbacks, but they are mostly attacking,
when Ballack and Frings are back I hope we will have an advantage. And
in attack Germany is stronger. We always have many scoring chances and
Klose started scoring again. So with Podolski, Gomez, Kurani and Helmes
Loew has lots of opportunities for tactical surprises. Your Pavlyuchenko
is very good, but he often attacks alone."
"I am sure that in Germany the game will be very fast, and if Russia
is able to cork German attacks, they will have chances to win."
Sport
Express Daily, 12 Sep 2008
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