Rudi Voller comments on 2002 World Cup group stage draw (02.12.2001)
PUSAN,
After the draw of the 2002 World Cup group stage Germany head coach Rudi Voller commented on its results in an interview to the German Sports News Agency.
(Q) - Mr. Voller, how do you evaluate the results of the draw in Pusan?
(A) - We didn`t fall into a strong group, unlike the group F that may be called a "group of death."
(Q) - The match against the Cameroonian national team will be interesting because your compatriot Winfried Schafer coaches them.
(A) - The Cameroonian national team are the strongest among the African teams. One cannot become an Olympic champion for no particular reason. From the African teams just Cameroon can become World Champions.
(Q) - What would you say about Ireland?
(A) - We can`t underestimate the capabilities of Ireland. In the qualifying round they left Holland behind.
If Holland played against us in one group in Japan, they would unconditionally be considered favourites, while Ireland turned out to be stronger.
In the squad of the Irish national team there are many players who play in the English Premier League, and very probably they are strong in combating.
(Q) - Saudi Arabia are a little-known team.
(A) - Saudi Arabia is the outsider of our group. During the tenure of Berti Vogts we beat them 3-0.
(Q) - DFB (German Football Association) president Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder declared that the participation of the national team in the quarterfinal could be regarded as a success. Do you agree with him?
(A) - First of all I concentrate on the matches of the group stage and the participation in the 1/8 final. Our team are good enough to occupy the first or the second place in the group.
