德國目前與厄瓜多爾是A組的出現球隊，兩隊的交鋒將決定誰是小組頭名，而B組的英格蘭只要在最後一場小組賽同瑞典打平便可以以小組頭名出線。德國隊助理教練比埃爾霍夫希望兩隊不要過早相遇。他説“相比于英格蘭，我更喜望能與巴拉圭活著瑞典交手”。但是他對德國也保持著信心，認為自己的球隊目前士氣很高，雖然他們自2001年10月1比0戰勝過英格蘭之後與強隊交鋒從未有過勝績。目前的德國隊，積極拼搶，不知疲倦的奔跑和強壯的身體將是獲勝的法寶。

　　鏈結：http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=371302&cc=4716

　　原文：

　　Bierhoff eager to avoid date with England

　　Germany coach Oliver Bierhoff is keen to avoid a clash with England in the second round of the World Cup.

　　Germany take on joint leaders Ecuador in their battle for Group A supremacy on Tuesday, with the losers likely to face an early meeting with Sven-Goran Eriksson4s troops, who need only to draw against Sweden to win Group B.

　　The tournament hosts looked like the force of old in their first match, comfortably beating Costa Rica 4-2, but they could not score against Poland until injury-time, when Oliver Neuville slid home the game's only goal.

　　Yet Bierhoff is wary of a clash with their long-time rivals.

　　'I would prefer to play Sweden or Paraguay rather than England, who remain favourites to win Group B,' said Bierhoff, who works alongside head coach Jurgen Klinsmann.

　　'But then again a big win early in the knock-out states could give us a major confidence booster for the remaining matches.'

　　Bierhoff vowed to shift the full concentration to Tuesday's meeting with in-form Ecuador.

　　'We have put ourselves into a good position no matter what happens in the other group,' he stated. 'We have to make sure we win our group and then take it from there.'

　　While the three-time World Cup winners have rarely struggled against lesser sides, they have not beaten a top international opponent since October 2000 when they handed England a memorable 1-0 defeat in the last match at Wembley.

　　'There is a lot of talk about us not having beaten a big nation for such a long time,' said Bierhoff. 'But we are convinced that we can defeat every team. Now that we have seen all teams that are in the tournament we are not scared of anyone.'

　　The former international striker, whose golden goal won Germany the Euro 96 crown, hailed his country's typical virtues following the dramatic victory over Poland.

　　'The fact that we never gave up - not even after twice hitting the crossbar near the end - really showed the morale of the team,' he stated.

　　'The German virtues are widely held in a negative esteem. They are often reduced to fighting, running and a strong physical composure. But these days we know this can only be the basis for everything.'

　　作者-于歡-北京第二外國語學院-英語系

責編：佟杉杉