German vintages ready for classic

Dietmar Hamann and Jens Jeremies are expected to be dropped in favour of the old heads of Olaf Thon and Thomas Helmer in mid-field for a Group F game which the Germans cannot afford to lose if they want to stay in the tournament.

Iran secured their first finals win in the emotional 2-1 defeat of the United States on Sunday and have just one point less than the Germans in the group. An upset win would put the through at the expense of Germany, presuming Yugoslavia beat the United States.

The Germans, winners in 1954, 1974 and 1990, have only once failed to get past the first round in 1938 when the tournament was last held in France.Iranstriker Khodadad Azizi, who played in the Bundesliga with Cologne last season, said: 8220;If we want to go through to the second round, we have to beat Germany. Nothing is impossible in this world.8221;

Iran looked a more than accomplished side against the Americans and in Mehdi Mahdavikia, who scored the second goal, have one of the great talents of the tournament.

Germany will be facing a confident side, with nothing to lose and more history beckoning. The Iranians are expected to field three players who earn their living in the Bundesliga. In addition to Azizi, striker Ali Daei and mid-fielder Karim Bagheri also played for Arminia Bielefeld last season.

Vogts, struggling to find young talent coming through at home, has brought a squad of veterans to France with an average age of nearly 30. It has already looked fragile at times.

Against Iran, Vogts is expected to field a team with only three players under 30 in Michael Tarnat, Joerg Heinrich and Christian Woerns, who are all 28. The average age couldeven be as high as 31. But Vogts felt some of his younger players let him down for long periods during the game against Yugoslavia when the Germans fought back from 2-0 down.

8220;I was forced to change things around against Yugoslavia because the performances from some of the players were not good,8221; Vogts said. 8220;I know certain players have a mental problem. I know who I can rely on.8221;

Vogts took the unusual step of confirming that the 37-year-old libero-cum-mid-fielder would definitely play in the first-round Group F clash in Montpellier.

The German trainer usually gives nothing away about his team before a match. The only player sure of his place is goalkeeper Andy Koepke.