FRANCE 98 – General Media News Template

For a long time Andreas Moeller was considered “too soft” to make it big in German football.

That has changed over the years as Moeller took a leadership role at Borussia Dortmund and, to some degree, within the German national team.

Today he is Berti Vogts’ preferred midfield option, edging out another 1990 World Cup veteran in Thomas Haessler. Moeller’s job is to act as Germany’s midfield general. He sprays passes into the path of sprinting strikers, orders his teammates into position and pulls them back when the opposition starts to move downfield.

Moeller is dangerous near goal. He is happy to shoot on sight and has surprised many a keeper with his deft flicking of free kicks over opposition walls. A fierce battle broke out this season when new Dortmund coach Nevio Scala tried to make a striker out of Moeller.

The German refused point blank and the pair were embroiled in several heated exchanges in the dressing room. But Moeller won – and because of it still has his place in Germany’s squad. There is strong competition from Haessler to take over Germany’s playmaker role in the midfield but good performances by 30-year-old Moeller in this year’s batch of pre-World Cup friendlies have seen him get the nod.

On the negative side Moeller can be very moody. He reacts badly to criticism and has been known to stomp off pouting when he felt his football genius was unappreciated. Moeller has also had a reputation in the past for tricking referees into awarding unjust penalties with clever dives in the penalty area.

One of his finest attributes is his pace. Though sometimes a little selfish he also has a certain elegance to his on-field demeanour – all-round Andreas Moeller is an intelligent player.