Germany v United States (Ulsan, today, 12.30): His moustache bristled above a grimace, the tan designer suit creasing as he folded his arms with a sigh. "Am I aware of our limitations?" muttered Rudi Völler, annoyance flickering across his face. "We are below teams like Brazil and England who have more class than us, and I am realistic. But the best teams do not always win the World Cup."
Germany might, then, and after seven days of stinging criticism from former team-mates back home, unconvinced by the team's unspec- tacular progress to today's quarter-final with the United States, another grilling was all Völler needed. The 42-year-old, usually more like a Monaco playboy than a stern German, lost his cool in the wake of his team's scrappy 1-0 dismissal of Paraguay. Yesterday he bit his lip; today he hopes to prove the critics wrong.
"I always try to keep everything under control but I'm only a simple human being," said Völler, whose international career included three World Cup finals appearances and a phenomenal 47 goals in 90 games.
"When I took this job two years ago I vowed to stand by the team and protect them. I'll continue to do that. But Franz Beckenbauer warned me that I shouldn't lose my temper, particularly when people were criticising, and instead I should keep my focus on coaching. I'm trying."
"We all stand together and share the same dream," echoed Oliver Kahn, captaining the side after kicking his heels on the bench in the previous two World Cups. "Many of the players were at Euro 2000 and came here eager to show it was not the real Germany then. There are also several players who will never play at a World Cup again and want to make the most of it. That's a great motivation to have."
Now, with appetites whetted at home, further progress is demanded. Even the chancellor Gerhard Schröder predicts a 2-0 win over the US, "though I don't want to join the ranks of the millions who are second-guessing the German manager".
The US cannot hope to, either. Völler may have been a novice coach but he has steadily proved himself tactically adept. He ignored suggestions that the inexperienced Miroslav Klose might not be ready to lead the forward line, and now the Kaiserslautern striker is the joint leading scorer with five and has been valued at £25 million by his club.
Against Paraguay Völler switched his defence at half-time and perked up a shabby display, resulting in Oliver Neuville's blistering winner two minutes from time. The Bayer Leverkusen forward may today be preferred to Carsten Jancker.
Despite the injuries that afflicted his squad on the eve of the finals, Völler has conjured up options.
"We are now in a position where we can reach the last four," said the coach, who will remain at the helm until 2006 at least. "Few would have believed that possible two years ago, but that was our goal and now it's a dream which we can realise. You can see in training that the team are up for the match and that we have a real chance. It would be fatal if we let that chance pass us by."
"I said it yesterday and I'll say it again today," USA coach Bruce Arena told a press conference yesterday, "all the pressure is on the Germans." The United States, if they lose, could still go home and receive a presidential reception. Such has been their achievement this summer. Arena concedes Germany are physically a more powerful side. "They are probably the 'biggest' team in the tournament," Arena said. "Depending on who they start, they could probably start nine or 10 players taller than six feet.
"They are a big team in this game, and that gives you issue on corner kicks and restarts, which is their strength. Will it cause problems? Yes. That is part of the challenge of this game."
After matching super fit South Korea, Arena believes his side's physical prowess will stand them in good stead against the Germans. He said: "We were fitter than Mexico were at the end of our last game, and it's something we pride ourselves on." Arena has to decide if there is a place for full back Frank Hejduk, back from suspension. Veteran defender Jeff Agoos is very doubtful with a calf injury, so Eddie Pope, Pablo Mastroeni and Crystal Palace's Gregg Berhalter will probably have the task of containing midfield star Michael Ballack and five-goal striker Klose.
Lively 20-year-old midfielder Landon Donovan, described by Arena as "oblivious to pressure", and big striker Brian McBride have two goals each and will carry the responsibility of beating Kahn for only the second time in the tournament.
Germany overcame the States 4-2 in March but the Americans did produce morale-boosting 2-0 and 3-0 victories in 1999. Nothing in this amazing tournament is predictable.
Tomorrow's game will be refereed by Scotland's top official Hugh Dallas, one of 16 referees kept on for the final stages.
