Agence France Presse

Nuremberg, June 24:

Germany and Brazil have won the World Cup eight times between them and the two great footballing nations lock horns again here on Saturday in the semi-final of the Confederations Cup. The game is a repeat of the 2002 World Cup final, when Ronaldo scored both goals to help Brazil win 2-0, and the German media are billing this match as a chance for revenge three years on. “Everyone wants to beat Brazil,” declared Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira.

“All the teams that we play against produce their best game of the year.” “From watching Brazil, I sense they are not really taking this competition seriously,” Beckenbauer said. Germany have failed to beat Brazil since a 2-1 friendly win over Cologne back in 1993. Manager Jurgen Klinsmann played in that game and hopes for a similar result. “We are determined to reach the final,” he vowed. “Brazil are very technical and the world champions but we have our attributes.”

“We cannot beat Germany if we play like they play, we must play the Brazilian way, the way we know how,” said Parreira. “We want to win this cup but have to consider the physical condition of our players. Some of them are shattered after long seasons.” Germany will want to play at a high tempo and prevent Brazil from probing for an opening with long spells of possession as Kaka, Ronaldinho and Robinho are all capable of opening a defence on their own. Germany will field the strongest team with captain Michael Ballack back. Oliver Kahn will miss the tie with Jens Lehmann in goal.