Achtung, achtung, Ireland are next

Berlin's biggest-selling tabloid fired the first salvo ahead of tomorrow's Germany/Ireland match.

"Attention Irish: You're next!" was the front-page headline of BZ yesterday with the reminder of Germany's 8-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in their opening match: "Rudi's Young Wild Things Thrashed the Sons of the Desert."

"We call our striker Jancker the Tanker. But tomorrow we will have 11 tankers ready to destroy Ireland," said Markus Waitsches, a journalist with BZ.

The German government said yesterday it is rearranging its schedule around the game by moving forward its weekly press conference by 15 minutes to 1.15 p.m.

A government spokesman said they hope no one asks too many questions so everyone can be in front of a television by the 1.30 p.m. kick-off (12.30 Irish time).