Kahn - growing confidence.
GERMANS GROW IN CONFIDENCE
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Cautious optimism is oozing out of the German
camp as they contemplate a World Cup quarter-final against the United States in
Ulsan on Friday.
If the Germans - now equal second favourites to win the tournament - can
overcome the recent trend of upsets and beat the USA, then they face a
semi-final against either Spain or hosts Korea.
Veteran goalkeeper Oliver Kahn is confident they can overcome the American
challenge, but he is quick to recall his country's surprise losses at the
quarter-final stage of recent World Cups.
"I am confident that we will proceed," he said.
"We have to be very careful, because we are in a situation as in 1994 and
1998. We must not underestimate anyone."
In 1994, German dreams of retaining the trophy were shattered by the bald pate
of Bulgarian Iordan Letchkov as he headed the winner in Bulgaria's historic 2-1
win.
And in 1998 it was Croatia destroying Teutonic dreams as they crushed Bertie
Vogts' team 3-0.
However, coach Rudi Voller is convinced the team will prove their many
pre-tournament critics wrong.
"People have originally given us up before the World-Cup. Now we have
surprisingly reached the quarter-final. I am sure that we will stay here for a
while longer," said Voller, who won the trophy as a West Germany player in 1990
but was also in the line-up shattered by Bulgaira four years later.
One of the features of Germany's World Cup so far has been the emergence of
youngsters Michael Ballack and Miroslav Klose, the joint top goalscorer so far.
Ballack had a fine season with Bayer Leverkusen and has lifted himself to an
extra level, while Klose has developed from a virtual unknown at Kaiserslautern
to become one of the most feared strikers at the tournament.
But experienced midfielder Jens Jeremies, who was restricted to substitute
appearances until finally getting a start in the second-round win over Paraguay,
said the success so far was built around more than just a few outstanding
individuals.
"We are a team," he said, "not just many single players.
"This spirit, which is in the team, will take us to success."
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