You are in > manchester.com  > News > Bierhoff hails Germany team spirit

General Sport

Bierhoff hails Germany team spirit

28/06/2008

Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff has hailed the team's progress to the final of Euro 2008 and says they have come a long way in recent years.

Although Germany have maintained an excellent record in the World Cup they have been knocked out at the group stages of the European Championships at the last two tournaments.

Bierhoff scored the winning goals for Germany when they beat Czech Republic in the final of Euro 96 in England and the striker believes the current side have harnessed the same spirit as the team he was victorious with eight years ago.

"When you consider where we began from four years ago we have achieved a great deal," said Bierhoff.

Since picking up just two points at Euro 2004 Germany have finished third at the Confederations Cup and World Cup and now play Spain in the final of Euro 2008.

Bierhoff thinks the side will be able to go a step further this time as long as they continue to play as a team.

He said: "If we can perform as strongly as we did against Portugal, I will be very optimistic."

Although Bierhoff admits Spain have some excellent players he says it is the German's collective strength that will help them win the final.

"I don't want to name any individual within our squad as the winner or shooting star of this tournament because I see the whole team as winners, regardless of the result on Sunday," he said.

"But that's no reason to take our foot off the gas now. We want to continue working hard, develop further and have great successes."