Bierhoff's Monaco move may revive career

Oliver Bierhoff swapped Milan for Monaco yesterday, in a move he hopes will ultimately help him to regain his place in Germany's starting line-up.

The 33-year-old striker is still nominally the captain of his national team, but is likely to be on the bench when Germany play England in Saturday's World Cup qualifier at the Olympic stadium in Munich.

Bierhoff, whose golden goal won Euro 96 for Germany, has also lost his place in the starting line-up at Milan. "The fact that [Monaco coach] Didier Deschamps appreciates my qualities made my decision easier," he said yesterday after agreeing a one-year contract with the French First Division club. "I have the impression that everything will now work out and I am completely relaxed."

Speaking as he arrived at the German team headquarters beside Starnberger Lake, outside Munich, he added: "I assume that I will be a starter again in Monaco and that I can regain my place as starter in the national team as well."

The Germany coach, Rudi Völler, welcomed Bierhoff's move. "He has made a very good choice," Völler said. "It's good for Olli and it's good for us that he gets to play again. He is full of zest, he wants to show everyone that they were wrong to criticise him in Milan."

Despite that tribute, Völler is expected to start with Bayern Munich's Carsten Jancker and Bayer Leverkusen's Oliver Neuville in attack.

He also promised that Germany, who can secure World Cup qualification if they win, will play offensively. "We are playing at home, we are in a good position and we want to play forward," he said.

Völler also discussed David Beckham's groin injury. "It would be a severe blow for England if he could not play," he said. "He's England's marquee player, not only because of his world-class game, but also because of his personality."

The former Germany striker Uli Stielike yesterday upped the stakes by claiming that Beckham was not as good as the Hertha Berlin midfielder Sebastian Deisler. "Deisler is better than Beckham," said Stielike, who watched the England captain injure himself playing for Manchester United at Villa Park on Sunday. "He has all the skills and he is faster than Beckham."

The 22-year-old Deisler's preferred role is in the middle of the park but has played on the right side of midfield for Germany. He is widely tipped to move to Bayern Munich at the end of the season.

Liverpool's Germany midfielder Dietmar Hamann urged caution. "England appear stronger under Eriksson," he said. "It will be a tight game, but we don't need to hide. "Respect yes, fear no."