FRANCE 98 – Match Summary n°53
Klinsmann equalised a superb 47th minute strike from Luis Hernandez and Bierhoff’s superb header in the 85th minute gave the Germans a 2-1 win they barely deserved. It was Bierhoff’s 20th goal for Germany and continued his run of vital strikes. He snatched the ‘golden goal’ which won Germany the 1996 Euro Championships with victory over the Czech Republic.
” They gave us a very tough game, and they are a dangerous side. But we deserved to win over the 90 minutes, “ said the AC Milan-bound Bierhoff, who was top scorer in Italy’s Serie A last season. ” We had far more chances. But it was still close – we just did enough. “
Mexico had taken the game to the Germans in adventurous fashion and were denied by lax defending from the tiring Raul Lara and the sharpness of Klinsmann and Bierhoff.
Said a distraught Lara: ” I’m gutted – we were so close to qualifying. “ The Mexicans had seemed destined to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since the 1986 tournament and avenge the defeat on penalties to Germany in that match.
Germany were playing their 666th international since 1908, 666 being the sign of the devil, and the hex took its toll with stopper Jurgen Kohler injuring himself in the warm up and Hernandez scoring the opener – the 100th strike against Germany in World Cup finals. But Klinsmann pounced for his 47th international goal in the 74th minute after Lara failed to cut out a cross from Dietmar Hamann and the peerless Bierhoff rose above Lara to head home the winner.
Germany, who last failed to reach the quarter-finals in 1938, had a lot to thank Bierhoff and Klinsmann for. Their defence was creaky under pressure and Bertie Vogts juggled the midfield combination after Michael Tarnat and Thomas Hassler failed to deliver. It was substitute Ulf Kirsten who found Bierhoff in the middle for the goal and Germany coach Bertie Vogts was relieved at the end that one of his tactical changes had paid dividends.
” We are getting better all the time and we pulled it around. We didn’t want to go home just yet, “ said Vogts. ” We showed a lot of fighting spirit and did enought to win. Kohler is a vital player and it was a big blow losing him before the game started. The replacements played their part in the win. “
Mexico, stout in defence and adventurous in attack, more than matched favourites Germany for most of the 90 minutes. The midfield prompting of captain Alberto Garcia Aspe, the long-range shooting of Marcelino Bernal in the first half and the sharpness of Hernandez had the normally unflappable German back four under pressure.
” The bad news is we lost – the good news is that we played well, “ said Mexico’s coach Manuel Lapuente. ” We could have scored a second goal but after that we lost a grip on the game. The players can go home with their heads held high. “
Mexico had indicated their attention to attack by naming three forwards and the unorthodox Cuauthemoc Blanco caused the German defence problems early on. He attempted his trademarked ” bounce ” trick when confronted by Christian Worns and Jorg Heinrich on the left forcing a corner and then was hacked down by Worns.
The Germans put the Mexican goal under intense pressure in the last seven minutes of the first half. A Tarnat shot was brilliantly stopped by Campos and then a sweeping move involving Klinsmann and Hassler ended with Bierhoff heading against the underside of the bar. Mexico hit back and a cute flick by Hernandez found Francisco Palencia charging through but he tried to place the ball past Kopke and the experienced keeper was up to the challenge.
Mexico’s Hernandez, nicknamed ” El Matador “, put Germany to the sword just two minutes after half-time. The tricky Blanco dribbled in from the left and found the striker who evaded a lunging tackle from Tarnat before firing past Kopke. The Mexicans should have added to Hernandez’s goal in the 61st minute. Substitute Jaime Ordiales ran half the length of the park and in his effort to clear the danger sweeper Lothar Matthaus struck the ball towards his own goal and watched as Kopke touched it onto the post. The ball was hit back in and Hernandez, unguarded, shot into the arms of Kopke.
Germany’s equaliser in the 74th minute was against the run of play but they were on top when Bierhoff hit what turned out to be the winner. Mexico tried in vain for the equaliser with the admirable Hernandez having an effort saved by Kopke deep in injury time.