Matthaeus makes coach Vogts eat humble pie

MONTPELLIER, June 30: Hats and humble pie are on the menu for coach Bertie Vogts after Germany stumbled into the last 16 of the World Cup th...

MONTPELLIER, June 30: Hats and humble pie are on the menu for coach Bertie Vogts after Germany stumbled into the last 16 of the World Cup thanks largely to veteran mid-fielder Lothar Matthaeus.

Only a few months ago, Vogts said he would eat his hat if he ever recalled the 37-year-old former world player of the year to the national side after a very public war of words with the Bayern Munich star.

Matthaeus8217; international career seemed over when he was dropped after USA 8217;94 and accused of stirring up bad feeling in the camp.

But the long-term injury to Borussia Dortmund Mattias Sammer and fitness doubts over Olaf Thon forced the German coach into an embarrassing U-turn as Matthaeus returned to the squad after a four-year absence.

His return from the international wilderness has been greeted with delight by the taboloid Bild Germnay8217;s best selling paper with 10 million readers who have run a long campaign for the recall of the former European player.

8220;Matthaeus is in the mid-field!8221; ran the simpleand triumphant headline in Thursday8217;s edition.

Matthaeus was brought to France 8217;98 more as cover for Thon, but with Germany struggling against Yugoslavia last week and against Iran on Thursday, Vogts threw on his ageing trump card with dramatic results.

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Against the Yugoslavs, the former Inter Milan idol seized control of the game and rescued what seemed a hopeless cause, inspiring Germany to come from two goals behind for a 2-2 draw.

Matthaeus was named in the starting line-up for Germany for the first time in four years for the match against Iran, after setting a new record of 22 appearances in the World Cup finals when he came on as a substitute against Yugoslavia.

But once again the Germans struggled to impose themselves on the game began to dictate the pace of the game.

After an abject first-half display, Germany quickly found themselves two goals to the good and all but assured of a last 16 clash with Mexico back in Montepellier on Monday.

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And it was his vision which set up the crucialsecond-half goal for three-times world champions when he spotted the forward run of Jorg Heinrich and lofted an inch perfect 50-yard ball.

Heinrich headed the ball into the path of Oliveier Bierhoff whose shot cannoned off the post for Jurgen Klinsmann to scramble in a header.

And Vogts was forced to acknowledge the crucial influence of the player just as he was after the Yugoslav game.