Germans to guarantee qualification

GERMAN boss Bertie Vogts yesterday refused to get himself unduly worried about tomorrow's Group C game against Russia at Old Trafford - or his players appearing naked in the sauna at their exclusive Cheshire headquarters!

Hotel management showed the Germans a red card earlier this week when they embarrassed fellow guests at the leisure complex. And coach Vogts set the record straight yesterday, claiming the Germans were unaware of cover up etiquette.

"We should really delve into this slightly longer," said tongue in cheek Vogts who can afford to relax with skipper Jurgen Klinsmann back in the side after his one match ban.

"In China, for example, people go to the Sauna naked and in Finland the only thing you wear is a little glass of schnaps! Maybe in Russia you have to wear your woolly hat and socks! Joking apart, we just didn't know. We have now informed the players and there were no hard feelings from the hotel."

Press officer Wolfgang Niersbach, added: "I, for one, did not know that in England it is not the normal thing to go to the sauna naked and that you are supposed to wear your swimming trunks, something unheard of in Germany.

"You can laugh about it, but what we do not like is that one of the German papers latched onto the story and showed a picture of Klinsmann without his shirt taken three years ago, conveying the impression that it was in the hotel lobby now. That's as far from the truth as you can get and that is where fun ends as far as we are concerned."

Vogts, meanwhile, reports no problems" as he prepares for the match which could "mean quarter final qualification. "We intend to dictate the game straight from minute one," said Vogts. "And maybe we can carry that until the 70th or 80th minute which is more than can be said about the Czech game."

They will have to contend with winger Andrei Kanchelskis who knows he must make a major impact on his return to Old Trafford if his side are to stay in the tournament.

"The Russians are quick, pass the ball well and will be a formidable opponent to beat," added Vogts whose only slight fitness doubt is Mario Basler. The midfielder has rejoined the squad after an ankle operation, and disappointed Vogts by telling German television that he should be playing tomorrow.

"We all know that he has a bit of a loose tongue, but I played things cool with him. He is incredibly ambitious and I had a word with him during the training and maybe he didn't really understand because he was breathing so heavily.

"What I don't like is that he attacks Thomas Hassler and he says he shouldn't be in the team because he is on the tired side. He should not be making those comments outside the training camp limits, but he is a great footballer and I'll stand by him"

Vogts will keep his line up under wraps, but also has mid fielder Steffen Freund back after suspension following the 2-0 win against the Czech Republic.