After the 1-1 draw in their EURO 2004 opener with the Netherlands the German national team did everything to relax on Wednesday. However, after returning to the team hotel in Amancil at 2 o'clock in the morning there was still a little time to celebrate the good start into the tournament. The Germans went to dinner with the wifes or girlfriends. Later that morning one hour of light jogging was scheduled. The main players only had to do half an hour. After that team manager Rudi Voeller and DFB coach Michael Skibbe gave their players the day off until 11 p.m.
"In general everyone is satisfied"
All players were able to take part in the jogging session, so Voeller has no injury worries for the next game against Latvia on Saturday (18.00 CEST). Before returning to the team hotel later a few players went to play golf, others spent the day with the family.
The overall mood in the team after their strong performance against the Netherlands was good. "In general we are satisfied, because we have played like a World Championship runner-up should play and have kept all our chances for advancing to the next round," Voeller said. "Especially in the first half I saw a very good game." Then Voeller ventured one step further: "The last group game against the Czech Republic will be a knock-out game."
But before that there is still the game in Oporto against Latvia an Saturday. So Voeller tried to convince his team that starting with a draw was something positive and cautioned his players to take their next opponent seriously. "Maybe the result wasn't too bad, so we won't go into the next game feeling too confident. The last match is over, so we cannot rest on the result and think that we son't have to do much anymore to qualify for the next round. There is always a danger in praise."
Therefore Voeller warned his team on Wednesday morning: "One shouldn't think that we already achieved something. We did not win, but we're still in the game, nothing more, nothing less."
Michael Ballack "Man of the match"
The team manager emphasized "that from now on only Latvia is important. We will not underestimate our opponents." Michael Ballack, who won the "Man of the match" award, also warned against the dangers of the next match: "The next game will be completely different. Against the Netherlands we were the underdogs, now we are the favourites."
The line-up and the tactics against Latvia are still a secret as always in the German team. Coach Skibbe said: "We have to be even more committed."
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[bild1]After the 1-1 draw in their EURO 2004 opener with the Netherlands the German national team did everything to relax on Wednesday. However, after returning to the team hotel in Amancil at 2 o'clock in the morning there was still a little time to celebrate the good start into the tournament. The Germans went to dinner with the wifes or girlfriends. Later that morning one hour of light jogging was scheduled. The main players only had to do half an hour. After that team manager Rudi Voeller and DFB coach Michael Skibbe gave their players the day off until 11 p.m.
"In general everyone is satisfied"
All players were able to take part in the jogging session, so Voeller has no injury worries for the next game against Latvia on Saturday (18.00 CEST). Before returning to the team hotel later a few players went to play golf, others spent the day with the family.
The overall mood in the team after their strong performance against the Netherlands was good. "In general we are satisfied, because we have played like a World Championship runner-up should play and have kept all our chances for advancing to the next round," Voeller said. "Especially in the first half I saw a very good game." Then Voeller ventured one step further: "The last group game against the Czech Republic will be a knock-out game."
But before that there is still the game in Oporto against Latvia an Saturday. So Voeller tried to convince his team that starting with a draw was something positive and cautioned his players to take their next opponent seriously. "Maybe the result wasn't too bad, so we won't go into the next game feeling too confident. The last match is over, so we cannot rest on the result and think that we son't have to do much anymore to qualify for the next round. There is always a danger in praise."
Therefore Voeller warned his team on Wednesday morning: "One shouldn't think that we already achieved something. We did not win, but we're still in the game, nothing more, nothing less."
[bild2]
Michael Ballack "Man of the match"
The team manager emphasized "that from now on only Latvia is important. We will not underestimate our opponents." Michael Ballack, who won the "Man of the match" award, also warned against the dangers of the next match: "The next game will be completely different. Against the Netherlands we were the underdogs, now we are the favourites."
The line-up and the tactics against Latvia are still a secret as always in the German team. Coach Skibbe said: "We have to be even more committed."
