Former German striker Oliver Bierhoff, who played in the 1998 and 2002 World Cup Finals, has spoken of the positive effect football has on people and the surprise package of the World Cup next summer. Bierhoff scored the winning goal for Germany against Czech Republic in the final of Euro 96 – the first final to be decided on a golden goal.
The German, who finishing as top scorer in the 1997/98 campaign during his spell with Udinese, was named the German footballer of the year in 1998 and is best known for his explosive headed goals. The former AC Milan forward turned from heading in those crosses to discussing the impact football has on society and the party atmosphere that awaits us in South Africa.
Bierhoff was quoted as saying when asked on the partnership of Mario Gomez and Miroslav Klose (who will be partnering each other next season at Bayern Munich):
It could definitely be an advantage, if they strike up a good partnership and also run into form. And I think it’s good for Mario to prepare for the World Cup at a top club like Bayern, in a high-pressure situation and at the highest European level in the Champions League.
Bierhoff also spoke of the possibility of a European team winning the trophy in another continent for the first time, like Brazil did in 1958 from a South American viewpoint:
I think so. It’s certainly not a disadvantage. But on the other hand, it’s a fact that players from the best national teams largely play their club football in Europe, so they’re used to the winter climate in any case. So I reckon the climate won’t add to the home advantage, or hand any kind of advantage to teams from particular continents.
Lastly, Bierhoff is obviously looking forward to the party atmosphere when questioned about how he feels the fans will be next summer
Definitely, and that’s my biggest hope. Football can be a really positive force, as we all know. Once the tournament starts, South Africa and the entire African continent can start putting this message across. It’ll be a very different World Cup compared to Germany, due to the climate if nothing else. But I reckon the watching world and the fans will be ready for that, they’ll interact with the South Africans and take it as it is. And my other great hope is that it’ll be a totally amicable coming together, precisely because it’s the World Cup.
