Germany recorded an important 2-0 win over Switzerland on Wednesday to boost morale ahead of the EURO 2004. VfB Stuttgart Kevin Kuranyi scored both goals but Swiss defender Bernt Haas took the headlines for all the wrong reasons with his blind header across the penalty area allowing Kuranyi to rifle home
and deflate Swiss spirits.
It is almost half a century since Switzerland defeated
neighbours Germany - 1956 to be exact - and that run continues
although Euro 2004 opponents France, England and Croatia will have
taken note of the Swiss speed on the counter attack.
Any suggestions that these two neighbours were merely loosening
up for Portugal were crushed just nine minutes in when Swiss
defender Murat Yakin picked up a yellow card for a bone-crunching
challenge on Arne Friedrich.
Shortly afterwards Switzerland carved open the best chance of
the first half with Murat's brother Hakan Yakin of VfB Stuttgart
rampaging down the right and centering for Alexander Frei. However, the Rennes marksman could only hit a tame shot at Oliver Kahn in the German goal. It was a let-off for the German rearguard which grew anxious as Yakin and Thomas Vogel fizzed shots narrowly wide.
Germany's first clean cut opening arrived in the 28th minute with Kevin Kuranyi laying the ball off for Miroslav Klose near the penalty spot but the Kaiserslautern man delayed and saw his scuffed shot blocked.
Bernt Haas was almost the Swiss hero seeing his 55th minute
effort scrambled off the line but instead he became the villain
after a calamitous error seven minutes later. The West Brom defender headed the ball inexplicably accross the penalty area allowing Klose to release Kuranyi and the Brazilian-born striker lashed home to the dismay of the home crowd.
Kuranyi headed home a Friedrich cross on 84 minutes to rub
salt in Switzerland's wounds and boost his own confidence ahead of
the Portugal finals.
First preparation game against Malta
In their first preparation game four goals from FC Bayern München playmaker Michael Ballack helped Germany restore some confidence with an emphatic win against Malta in Freiburg. The match allowed Rudi Völler's side to record a resounding victory. Defender Jens Nowotny, midfield player Torsten Frings and striker Fredi Bobic also found the target.
"You need games like this to build confidence," said Völler. "The way we played was satisfying but we are not getting carried away." Germany have another friendly to play, against Hungary in Kaiserslautern on June 6, before they travel to Portugal.
created by db
[bild1]Germany recorded an important 2-0 win over Switzerland on Wednesday to boost morale ahead of the EURO 2004. VfB Stuttgart Kevin Kuranyi scored both goals but Swiss defender Bernt Haas took the headlines for all the wrong reasons with his blind header across the penalty area allowing Kuranyi to rifle home
and deflate Swiss spirits.
It is almost half a century since Switzerland defeated
neighbours Germany - 1956 to be exact - and that run continues
although Euro 2004 opponents France, England and Croatia will have
taken note of the Swiss speed on the counter attack.
Any suggestions that these two neighbours were merely loosening
up for Portugal were crushed just nine minutes in when Swiss
defender Murat Yakin picked up a yellow card for a bone-crunching
challenge on Arne Friedrich.
Shortly afterwards Switzerland carved open the best chance of
the first half with Murat's brother Hakan Yakin of VfB Stuttgart
rampaging down the right and centering for Alexander Frei. However, the Rennes marksman could only hit a tame shot at Oliver Kahn in the German goal. It was a let-off for the German rearguard which grew anxious as Yakin and Thomas Vogel fizzed shots narrowly wide.
[bild2]Germany's first clean cut opening arrived in the 28th minute with Kevin Kuranyi laying the ball off for Miroslav Klose near the penalty spot but the Kaiserslautern man delayed and saw his scuffed shot blocked.
Bernt Haas was almost the Swiss hero seeing his 55th minute
effort scrambled off the line but instead he became the villain
after a calamitous error seven minutes later. The West Brom defender headed the ball inexplicably accross the penalty area allowing Klose to release Kuranyi and the Brazilian-born striker lashed home to the dismay of the home crowd.
Kuranyi headed home a Friedrich cross on 84 minutes to rub
salt in Switzerland's wounds and boost his own confidence ahead of
the Portugal finals.
First preparation game against Malta
In their first preparation game four goals from FC Bayern München playmaker Michael Ballack helped Germany restore some confidence with an emphatic win against Malta in Freiburg. The match allowed Rudi Völler's side to record a resounding victory. Defender Jens Nowotny, midfield player Torsten Frings and striker Fredi Bobic also found the target.
"You need games like this to build confidence," said Völler. "The way we played was satisfying but we are not getting carried away." Germany have another friendly to play, against Hungary in Kaiserslautern on June 6, before they travel to Portugal.
