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German Media Rounds on Veterans' Return

August 20, 2005

Jürgen Klinsmann's decision to bring back veterans Dietmar Hamann and Christian Wörns for the friendly draw against Holland on Wednesday was widely derided by the German press. Klinsmann's side had to fight back from 2-0 down to draw with the Oranje and the country's media immediately started looking for scapegoats. "Rarely has a return to the national team backfired as badly as those of the two oldest German field players in Rotterdam," the Berliner Zeitung wrote. "Safe passes aimed sideways instead of taking a risk, controlling the ball instead of pushing it up front, Hamann looked like a relic from an earlier era," DPA said. Borussia Dortmund defender Wörns, expected to stabilize a young German defense, was widely blamed for both of Arjen Robben's first-half goals. "Hamann and Wörns looked like strangers on their own team," the Berliner Zeitung said. "What is telling is that all the young newcomers brought in during the Klinsmann era adjusted far faster than that." The mass circulation Bild Zeitung tabloid was more forgiving but stopped short of praise preferring instead to put the result down to good fortune. "Klinsi, you're charmed," the newspaper wrote. "With luck and a strong (Michael) Ballack, we showed we can turn around a match against anyone." Goals from Ballack and Gerald Asamoah saved Germany's blushes late in the second half.

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