“He is a true personality and he was a professional for 20 years under the best trainers. That is enough experience.” Another appointment has seen Karl-Heinz Rummenigge installed at the head of a task force examining the reasons behind Germany’s worst-ever performance at a major tournament and attempting to broker greater co-operation between clubs and the international set-up.Fifteen of Voller’s first squad were on duty in the European Championship, but the performance was unrecognisable from those which saw them gain just a single point from three games. Now there was real purpose behind the German attack, two goals apiece for Mehmet Scholl and Alexander Zickler, and evidence that Sebastian Deisler, for some time the coming man of German football, was ready to flower on this elevated stage.Deisler was accommodated as an advanced wing-back in a system that saw the Germans dispense with their traditional libero in favour of a line of three central defenders. The team bore more of a Leverkusen influence, particularly in midfield, where Carsten Ramelow and Michael Ballack competed aggressively. Carsten Jancker, the hulking centre-forward, played just ahead of Scholl and Zickler, and with doubts still surrounding the fitness of captain Oliver Bierhoff, the Bayern Munich triangle could also feature at Wembley.”Hanover was fantastic, but even then I tried to restrain the euphoria,” said Völler as he named virtually the same squad for Saturday’s opening qualifying tie in Hamburg.

It includes Christian Ziege but not his new Liverpool team-mate Marcus Babbel, who has asked not to be considered for the next two years. “We need to focus on the Greece game and try to make good use of the positive atmosphere,” added Völler “It’s important to get that spark going again.”. Mark Hughes examined the geography of the small room at Everton’s Bellefield training ground and decided to take the chair behind the desk rather than the one in front. “I’d better get used to it,” he said with a smile, reflecting that his future will be on that side of the divide.

Mark Hughes examined the geography of the small room at Everton’s Bellefield training ground and decided to take the chair behind the desk rather than the one in front. “I’d better get used to it,” he said with a smile, reflecting that his future will be on that side of the divide.
The moment summed up the 36-year-old striker’s life. By day he is an Everton footballer, but he is also moonlighting as manager of Wales, which gives him a near-schizophrenic existence in which he can be both sides of the desk in a day. As he was talking about Wales, he felt inclined to take the commanding position.It is a role he will assume throughout this week, because Wales embark on his first real test as manager.