FRANCE 98 – General Media News Template
H-t: 2-0
Weather: fine. Pitch: good. Crowd: 50,000
Referee: Atanas Uzunow (Bul)
Yellow cards:
Germany: Reuter (32), Hamann (87).
Colombia: Lozano (11), Asprilla (25), Cordoba (43), Serna (66)
Germany rediscovered top form two weeks before the start of the World Cup when they beat fellow qualifiers Colombia 3-1 in a warm-up match here on Saturday.
It was one of the best performances in several months from the three-time world champions. A pair of early goals from new AC Milan striker Oliver Bierhoff set the pattern.
Bierhoff opened the scoring with a shot on the turn after just 54 seconds and his second strike came in the 16th minute when he mopped up after Thomas Hassler had hit the post. Andy Moller stretched Germany’s lead to 3-0 shortly after the break.
Colombia’s only goal came three minutes from the end when Dieter Hammann conceded a penalty by bringing down former Newcastle United striker Faustino Asprilla with a tackle from behind.
The spot-shot was converted by veteran midfielder Carlos Valderrama. German captain Jurgen Klinsmann, troubled by a calf injury in midweek, only played the final 20 minutes. He came on in place of Bierhoff but the match was already decided by that stage.
Teams:
Germany: Kopke; Worns, Thon, Kohler (capt); Reuter, Jeremies (Matthaes 70), Hassler (Hamann 46), Moller, Ziege; Bierhoff (Klinsmann 70), Marschall (Kirsten 70)
Colombia: Mondragon; Cabrera, Bermudez (Palacios 53), Ivan Cordoba, Santa; Lozano, Serna, Rincon (Ricard 57), Valderrama (capt); Valencia (Aristizabal 53), Asprilla