IRNA -- German national
football team headcoach Juergen Klinsmann stressed the
importance of the upcoming friendly match with Iran for
his country`s 2006 World Cup title bid.
"These kind of games like with Iran are eminently
important, especially when you have the chance to play
away from home. It`s an important experience for each
player, especially the younger players whom we are trying
to give step by step a chance in the national team,"
Klinsmann said in an exclusive interview with IRNA here
Monday.
"We have the advantage that we don`t have to qualify
(for the 2006 World Cup). So we have the possibility to
view each game that we play as preparations for the 2006
World Cup. Of course, for Iran this match is of utmost
importance as it wants to go to the 2006 World Cup,"
the German trainer added.
Klinsmann stressed it would be interesting to see how his
players would react to the atmosphere at Tehran`s Azadi
Stadium as more than 100,000 people are expected to
attend the football friendly between the triple World Cup
and Asian Cup winners.
"To play in front of 100,000 people in Tehran,
that`s something else, even for a seasoned professional
player who has already played at the Nou Camp Stadium in
Barcelona or in Milan. One has to adopt to it and
maintain his cool to be able to show his optimal
performance," he said.
The 1990 World Cup and 1996 European Cup title holder
voiced "respect" for the Iranian national team,
saying it was no coincidence Iran was leading its Asian
first-round World Cup qualifying group.
Klinsmann also expressed hope that Iran would make it to
the 2006 World Cup despite what he called a "very
difficult" qualification round in the Asian zone.
Asked about criticism in the Iranian media over his
"insulting" cheers after he scored a crucial
goal against Iran in the preliminary round of the 1998
World Cup, the trainer said, "This goal jubilation
was related to the enormous pressure which our own media
had put on us. But for God`s sake, it had nothing at all
to do with Iran."
He added: "No, no I have the highest respect for
each country and each national team and this includes
Iran."
The match on October 9 will be Germany`s visit to Tehran.
The two sides have played just once -- a World Cup group
match in 1998 which Germany won 2-0 on goals by Juergen
Klinsmann and Oliver Bierhoff.
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