Brazil overcomes Germany 2-1 Ronaldo scores late winner for Brazil friendly games schedule

Germany Andreas Koepke; Olaf Thon, Juergen Kohler, Thomas Helmer (or Christian Woerns), Joerg Heinrich, Dietmar Hamann, Jens Nowotny, Christian Ziege, Andreas Moeller, Juergen Klinsmann (or Ulf Kirsten), Oliver Bierhoff

Brazil Taffarel; Junior Baiano, Aldair, Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Cesar Sampaio, Dunga, Denilson, Rai, Ronaldo, Romario.

Ronaldo struck two minutes before the end to give Brazil a 2-1 victory over Germany in a major World Cup warmup Wednesday that finished with both teams reduced to 10 men.

Ronaldo, little seen in the game until then, ended a quick Brazilian move by collecting a brilliant through ball sent by Roberto Carlos, rounding around goalkeeper Andreas Koepke and easily slotting the ball home.
"The goal was very important. We had to improve after the Gold Cup and I hope this will now continue," Ronaldo said.

The victory boosted Brazil's confidence after its dismal performance at last month's Gold Cup, when the World Cup champion drew with Jamaica and Guatemala and lost to the United States.

Cesar Sampaio took the German defense by surprise to head in Brazil's first goal in the 27th minute. Eight minutes later, Germany lost experienced central defender Juergen Kohler, who was sent off for a rough tackle.

However, Brazil was also reduced to 10 men in the 57th minute, when captain Dunga earned his second yellow card and in 65th Germany equalized. There were also seven yellow cards in the bruising match.

Defender Christian Woerns tore through the Brazilian defense, slipped a pass to Ulf Kirsten, who shook off Junior Baiano to push the ball past Taffarel.

Germany, the reigning European champion and three-time World Cup winner, dominated the early part of the game with some brisk tackling and clever attacking soccer that made the Brazilian defense look shaky.

Brazil evened the game after its goal and Kohler's expulsion, but it failed to capitalize on its man advantage until Dunga's sending off. In the end, Brazil had trouble holding onto the draw, until Ronaldo's dramatic goal.

"A victory is always important, especially against a very strong rival playing at home and in this cold temperature," said Mario Zagallo, Brazil's coach.

"Our strategy was to wait and let them come, and it worked," Zagallo said.
It was a sweet victory for the four-time World Cup champion in a game that many think may also be repeated in the World Cup final in France this summer.
It also ended Germany's run of 22 games without defeat.
"We had problems after the stupid foul by Kohler. We took risks and we could have gotten a draw. They were a bit lucky to win, I think a draw would have been more just," said German coach Berti Vogts.

Brazil's first corner produced the first goal. Cafu took the corner and hit Sampaio with a perfect cross. The German defense, until then impenetrable, failed to mark the Brazilian defensive midfielder, who easily headed the ball into the upper corner from near the penalty spot.

The goal came against the run of play. Germany dominated the early part of the game, producing four good opportunities that gave Taffarel, the Brazilian goalkeeper, plenty of work and plenty of chances to excel.

In the third minute, Taffarel had to charge out of Brazil's penalty area to clear before the advancing Andreas Moeller.

In the 17th, a good pass by Woerns opened the way for Oliver Bierhoff, but Taffarel made a good save. Moments later, Juergen Klinsmann met an Olaf Thon cross at the near post, only to head high.

Taffarel's biggest save came in the 21st. Bierhoff headed down to Moeller, who shot hard and low from 12 meters (yards). Taffarel first deflected the ball and then smothered it.

Germany paid the price for some hard tackling when English referee David Elleray sent off Kohler, who charged foot-first into Cafu in a desperately late challenge.

Earlier, Woerns and Christian Ziege had already been booked. Dunga, and later Denilson, were also given yellow cards.

Before the goal, Brazil only twice came close to threatening the German net, one a 40-meter free-kick attempt by Roberto Carlos and another long-range effort by Rivaldo.

The Germans appeared unable to recover from the shock of losing Kohler, whose job had been to guard Romario, and Brazil took controlof the game. Late in the first half, Rivaldo nearly scored with a free-kick from the edge of the German area, but his shot hit the outside of the German net.

The Germans, cheered on by the capacity crowd of 58,000 at the Gottlieb-Daimler stadium, began fighting back again after the interval, and Junior Baiano and Roberto Carlos got yellow cards in quick succession.

Dunga was then sent off when he hacked from behind Kirsten, who had come in at the start of the second half for Klinsmann, the German captain.

And it was Kirsten, Bundesliga's top scorer with 18 goals this season, who got the Germans back into the game with his opportunistic finishing touch.

Junior Baiano had already gotten to the ball and but failed to clear it in time, allowing Kirsten to pounce from behind.

Ronaldo, twice FIFA's player of the year, made his first dangerous move in the 76th minute, turning around Thomas Helmer with lightning speed. Helmer pulled him down and was lucky to escape with only a yellow card.

With four minutes left, Joerg Heinrich headed just high after a cross from Michael Tarnat.

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STUTTGART, Germany March 24, 1998 (Reuters).

Germany captain Juergen Klinsmann, warming up for an emotional match against Brazil, said he believed his side could beat the World Cup favorites in Wednesday's friendly as well as at the finals in June.

"We have a lot of respect for them but we can beat them," Klinsmann said of the world champions. "Not only on Wednesday but also at the World Cup if we meet them there."

Germany has played Brazil 15 times, winning three matches, drawing four and losing eight. The two teams have never clashed at World Cup finals.

Klinsmann, who earned the first of his 100 caps for his country against Brazil in 1987, is looking forward to returning to the Stuttgart stadium where he learned his trade with spells at local clubs Kickers and VfB.

"It's a very special game for me," said the Tottenham striker. "It's probably the last chance I'll get to play in the stadium where I grew up and to face Brazil is always a highlight in a player's career."

Team boss Berti Vogts has always supported Klinsmann, who missed Germany's first two matches this year -- friendlies against Oman and Saudi Arabia last month -- because he had a broken jaw.

"He's on the way back to his best form but I think he's only reached 70 or 80 percent of his potential," said Vogts, who was to decide later on Tuesday whether he would include Klinsmann in his starting lineup.

Udinese's Oliver Bierhoff, the Italian first division's top scorer ahead of Brazilian star Ronaldo, looked certain to start the match and could pair with Bayer Leverkusen striker Ulf Kirsten if Vogts decided not to pick Klinsmann.

The Stuttgart pitch will also bring back memories to a Brazilian player, veteran Dunga, who played for VfB Stuttgart from 1993-95.

"I expect a tough test and an exciting match between two of the world's best teams," said the 34-year-old midfielder.

"We are not at 100 percent yet and we need tough matches like this one," he added. "But I'm not saying that we will not win. We must win every match we play."

Vogts, whose team had a shaky run in its qualifying campaign, was expected to field promising defensive midfielder Jens Jeremies but the TSV 1860 Munich player withdrew with injury.

Bayern Munich central defender Thomas Helmer, nursing a sore knee, could have to leave his place to Bayer Leverkusen's Christian Woerns.

"Brazil are the favorites," said Vogts. "But if we raise the level of our game and if we win our duels for 90 minutes, we stand a chance."

Brazil coach Mario Zagallo, often criticized for not doing his homework on opposing teams, has carefully studied Germany's last outings to avoid another upset after last month's stunning elimination from the CONCACAF Gold Cup by the United States.

Danger for Germany will come from the best striking duo in the World of Ronaldo and Romario. Brazil also have plenty of talent in defense with set piece expert Roberto Carlos of Real Madrid.

Brazil's main weakness might be Taffarel. Brazil's goalkeeper for the last two World Cups has been under heavy criticism lately after worrying performances for both club and country.