Fitting tribute from a ’keeper to another

Brad Friedel, the beaten US keeper, paid tribute to his opposite number Oliver Kahn and said the German had been man-of-the-match in the 1-0 World Cup quarter-final victory on Friday. “We had our chances but the man-of-the-match was their keeper. He played fantastic,” said Friedel.

“We’re a bit disappointed because we felt we should have won but that is why they’re so good. They can play games like this — when maybe they’re not the best team — and still win.” Friedel, who plays for English Premier League Blackburn Rovers, agreed that the US often outplayed the three-times winners. “I think we did. That is why it is so frustrating. But this World Cup has been incredible. We were beaten but were never once played off the park.” The US feared that the Germans’ aerial superiority would prove the decisive factor and so it proved with Michael Ballack’s winner coming from a free kick. “We knew they would be good at set pieces — he (Chrisian Ziege) put in a good ball.”

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We go with our heads held high, says American coach Arena

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American coach Bruce Arena said that he was proud of his team despite their 1-0 World Cup quarter-final defeat at the hands of Germany and he felt that they could have actually won the match.

“I was really proud of our team, we were a little unlucky. (Goalkeeper Oliver) Kahn came up with some great saves and kept them in the match. He was probably the difference in the match.

“They are a big team, a strong team and they are very dangerous from (free kicks). In the match we had a lot of chances, the Germans had two and they converted one – that was the difference. “We showed the world we can play. We haven’t arrived but there’s a bright future for the game in the United States.”

(Reuters)