The Hindu : Sport : Germany, Ecuador keen to top the group

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Tuesday, Jun 20, 2006

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Germany, Ecuador keen to top the group

Michael Ballack almost sure to play

BERLIN: Germany is playing Ecuador and trying not to think about England.

Already assured of a place in the second round, Germany players could be forgiven for looking ahead to one of their possible opponents.

ADDED FIREPOWER: Skipper Michael Ballack (right) will add teeth to the German attack led by Miroslav Klose in the crucial match against Ecuador. — Photo: AP

This is not what coach Juergen Klinsmann wants.

"We should now concentrate on nothing else but the game against Ecuador. We want to win so that we can be group winners. That's our greatest wish," Klinsmann said.

The only thing at stake for both teams at Tuesday's game in Berlin's Olympic Stadium is first place in Group A.

A draw is enough for Ecuador, which has a better goal difference after beating Poland 2-0 and Costa Rica 3-0. Germany beat Costa Rica 4-2 and edged Poland 1-0.

In the second round, the winner of the group plays the second-place team from Group B — likely to be either Sweden or England, although Trinidad and Tobago also has a chance — and vice versa.

The Germany-Ecuador game is in the afternoon, while England plays Sweden in the evening and the two teams will know before kick-off what they have to do to avoid the host team.

Klinsmann was trying to keep his players' attention on Ecuador. "We are already very involved with Ecuador," Klinsmann said.

"They deserve a lot of respect. They will be very tough to play. They've shown why they finished third in South America qualifying, behind Brazil and Argentina, and that it wasn't only due to altitude," he said referring to Quito's elevation of 7,200 feet.

Both teams are likely to rest some players, although the Germans insist that captain Michael Ballack would play. Ballack is carrying a yellow card and risks missing the second-round match if he is not careful in Tuesday's game.

"It's difficult to hold yourself back at the World Cup. In some games sometimes you get the feeling you can do it but not here," Ballack said Sunday. "You want to win, you want to play well and tackling is part of the game. It's important for us to have a good game and bolster our confidence."

Ecuador said that while Ballack's attacks were cause for concern, there were no plans to man mark him.

Ecuador coach Luis Fernando Suarez described Germany's offence as its strength, but that its defence sometimes could be easily breached.

"I don't want to draw. I want to win and our aim will be to win," Suarez said, who may have to do without injured strikers Carlos Tenorio and Agustin Delgado.

Loew said Germany's staff has read reports that Ecuador may rest some players and that Germany might do the same.

"We are going to sit down this afternoon and talk about it. We won't change much but it's obvious we should give a player or two a chance to play," Loew said. — AP

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