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LOEW: DON'T BELIEVE RUSSIA TO LOSE POINTS
Sport Express reports how the Russia's opponent
in the group Germany prepares to the World Cup qualifiers against Lichtenstein
and Wales.
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Joachim Loew Photo REUTERS
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"Our main task is to come to Russia as leaders of
the group in autumn," said the head coach of the Bundesteam Joachim
Loew. "That is why it is necessary for us to get six points in the
coming matches - at home with Lichtenstein and on road with Wales."
Everybody in the German team is up to the maximum result on 28 March in
Leipzig and on 1 April in Cardiff for nobody even counts on the possibility
that Russia won't win six points in the matches with Azerbaijan and Lichtenstein.
Of course the Germans understand it very well that it will be much more
difficult to outplay the Welsh than the small country to the south of
Germany.
The manager of the Bundesteam Oliver Bierhoff recalls how difficult it
was for his team to win Wales 1:0 at home: "It is a very troublesome
opponent that can keep up a high tempo and can combat."
"At home Wales will try to use every chance to snatch three points,
after all they have not lost hope to get to the final stage of the World
Cup in South Africa."
Loew planned to let Arne Friedrich of Hertha play in the centre of defence
together with Per Mertesacker. But in the last round of the Bundesliga
Arne tore his thigh muscle and is out of action for several weeks.
"It is always difficult to play any qualification group of the World
Cup," said Arne Friedrich after that unsuccessful match in Stuttgart.
"Especially difficult is to compete with the Russian national team.
Moreover we should win Wales in Cardiff:"
"Now we are the leaders of the group and we want to remain leaders.
But to achieve this we should show an excellent game."
"I agree that the future of the first place in the group will almost
surely be decided in Moscow. We won Russia at home and now must do it
in Moscow."
"We have no fear of the artificial turf, of course it would be better
to play on grass but we can get used to it by all means."
"I don't think that we have any advantage because Hiddink is working
with Chelsea now. He is one of the best coaches in the world and I am
sure he is able to divide his time between the national team and the club."
"I hope that Michael Ballack will know Hiddink better and tell us
several tricks of his. But on the other hand Guus would know Ballack better
and that equalize the chances again."
"I think Germany will be first in the group but I say so because
I am German."
Besides Friedrich two more players won't be able to participate in the
coming qualifiers - forward Miroslav Klose and midfielder Frings. Both
have ankle injuries and are sidelined for a long time.
Sport
Express Daily, 26 Mar 2009
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