Germans regroup for the litmus test

During the victorious 1996 finals, they had day after day of in-fighting among their injury-hit squad and even had UEFA permission to call up additions such was the length of their injury list. So far, it’s been relatively tame though cynics might say it’s just a question of time before a Pandora’s box is opened by someone airing their views in public.

As they always say though, you can never write off the Germans. Injured players Lothar Matthaus and Jens Jeremies will almost certainly play, coach Erich Ribbeck said on Saturday, which is a major boost to the team.

Matthaus picked up a right thigh injury in the 8-2 win over Liechtenstein on Wednesday and Jeremies hurt his left knee in Friday evening training. The 39-year-old Matthaus and tough mid-fielder Jeremies are key players in Ribbeck’s defence of their European title which they won four years ago in England with a 2-1 final victory over Czech Republic.

“Lothar took part in training,” Ribbeck told a press conference on Saturday. “That shows he his back to full fitness and, but for something out of the ordinary, he will be playing.”

Since arriving at their base, Matthaus, who skippered Germany’s World Cup winning side in 1990, had merely undergone light training. On Saturday, he had a full session however. “Since Wednesday, my treatment has been effective,” said Matthaus, “Today I was able to deal with all the problems. I think that with extra training till Monday, everything will be fine. I am more confident today but the decision belongs to the coach.”

Ribbeck did not name his starting 11 but gave a strong indication with an 11-a-side game which had Oliver Bierhoff playing with Ulf Kirsten as their strike duo.

Romania may be the underdogs but skipper Gheorghe Hagi and his teammates claimed they could pull off a historic win.