
LONDON, MAY 8: Jurgen Klinsmann said the absence of Matthias Sammer from the German World Cup squad was a “big disappointment” and he would respect any decision to recall Lothar Matthaeus.
Klinsmann fell out badly with Matthaeus, Germany’s most capped player, when they were both at Bayern Munich. Klinsmann said yesterday he had not spoken to Matthaeus since leaving the club a year ago and had “no relationship at all” with his former team-mate.
But the Tottenham striker said he would support coach Berti Vogts if he decided to call up Matthaeus for France ’98 following Sammer’s announcement on Wednesday that he would not be fit to play at the World Cup finals.“We talked about it last week and I said it was his (Vogt’s) decision and whatever he decides will be respected by the team,” Klinsmann said. Vogt said he planned to talk to Matthaeus, who last played for Germany in December ’94, about the finals.