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Kirsten not on German playoff squad
BERLIN (Reuters) -- Germany coach Rudi Voeller has resisted pressure to call back veteran striker Ulf Kirsten for the World Cup playoff against Ukraine later this month. The 35-year-old Leverkusen forward was not in the 22-man squad unveiled by Voeller on Thursday for the two-legged tie on November 10 in Kiev and four days later in Dortmund. Voeller has more than his share of injury problems but was able to welcome back four players who missed Germany's last qualifier -- a 0-0 draw with Finland on October 6. The draw left the triple world champions second in their group behind England and facing a playoff. Those returning from injury or suspension are defender Thomas Linke and strikers Carsten Jancker and Alexander Zickler, all from Bayern Munich, and Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann. However, Jancker is still nursing a foot injury and will probably not be available before the second leg in Dortmund. Voeller heard Franz Beckenbauer suggest that Kirsten, who retired from international football after Euro 2000, should be persuaded to make a comeback. "I am in permanent contact with Ulf and he has informed me that he was ready to help in case of an emergency," said Voeller, hinting Kirsten could still join the squad if Jancker had to pull out. Among those sidelined with injuries are Bayern midfielders Mehmet Scholl and Jens Jeremies and Hertha Berlin midfielder Sebastian Deisler. Germany, who have never failed to qualify for the World Cup finals, need to beat Ukraine to make next year's tournament in Japan and South Korea. "I trust this team and I am certain we will qualify," said Voeller. The former World Cup striker has hinted he might step down if Germany lost to Ukraine and missed out on the 2002 finals. "The only thing that counts now is those two games," he said. Voeller refused to say whether troubled captain Oliver Bierhoff would be in the starting line-up. "If he starts, he will wear the armband," he said. "If not (Bayern goalkeeper) Oliver Kahn will." Squad: Goalkeepers: Oliver Kahn (Bayern Munich), Jens Lehmann (Borussia Dortmund) Defenders: Frank Baumann (Werder Bremen), Sebastian Kehl (SC Freiburg), Thomas Linke (Bayern Munich), Jens Nowotny (Bayer Leverkusen), Marko Rehmer (Hertha Berlin), Christian Woerns (Borussia Dortmund). Midfielders: Michael Ballack, Carsten Ramelow, Bernd Schneider (all Bayer Leverkusen), Joerg Boehme (Schalke 04), Dietmar Hamann (Liverpool), Lars Ricken (Borussia Dortmund), Christian Ziege (Tottenham Hotspur). Strikers: Gerald Asamoah (Schalke 04), Oliver Bierhoff (Monaco), Marco Bode (Werder Bremen), Carsten Jancker, Alexander Zickler (both Bayern Munich), Miroslav Klose (Kaiserslautern), Oliver Neuville (Bayer Leverkusen)
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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