Football / World Cup USA '94: Berthold attacks German tactics

THOMAS BERTHOLD, the German defender, yesterday launched a strong attack on Berti Vogts, calling for a shake-up of the team and saying that the coach was wrong to say the team were playing well.

While Vogts has been conservative of his criticism of the world champions despite two below-par performances in their group, Berthold said: 'It can't be right when the trainer says after every game that we are playing well when all the world can see it is not true.

'I have told him that. We should call a spade a spade. We have to do much more to win the World Cup. What we have produced so far has been terrible.' The Germans seemed to lack ideas in midfield and pace at the back in their 1-1 draw with Spain in Chicago on Tuesday.

Berthold said he would prefer the captain, Lothar Matthaus, to move forward from libero to his old position in the midfield where he could be more dangerous.

'When we look at the way the other teams are playing, I think it would be better to have a simple back four. We have the people to play our way out of trouble. Lothar is wasted there. With him in midfield we could put more pressure on our opponents.'

Vogts's decision to move the 33-year-old Matthaus from midfield into the sweeper's role 18 months ago was controversial. The decision was largely made to give Andy Moller the space in midfield to become the main playmaker.

But while Moller is certainly talented, he has not yet shown the same inspiration which Matthaus has provided in the past when the Germans were in trouble.

Matthaus, the most capped German player of all time, has looked dangerous going forward but he does not get into attacking positions very often because of his defensive commitments.

With the Germans almost certain to win Group C despite their far from impressive form - their last first-round game is against South Korea in Dallas on Monday - it is unlikely Vogts will change his tactics at such a late stage.

Berthold has a reputation for being outspoken and his career has often been marked by controversy.

Once called 'a clown' by the former coach, Franz Beckenbauer, the 29-year-old VfB Stuttgart player has been in and out of favour in the national team but always seems to hit his form at the right time.

After being in the 1990 World Cup-winning side, he lost his place after being sent off in a European Championship qualifier against Wales in Cardiff in June 1991.

(Photograph omitted)