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Feeling confident: Germany legend Lothar Matthaeus. Valentina Petrova/AP/Press Association Images

Lothar Matthaeus: Sorry, Ireland -- Germany team better than 1990 World Cup winners

Doesn’t scare us.

LOTAHR MATTHAEUS, WHO captained Germany to their last World Cup triumph, has said the current squad is better than the German team which won the Italy 1990 title.

Joachim Loew-coached Germany, who are currently ranked third in the world behind World Cup holders Spain and Argentina, will book their 2014 World Cup berth in Brazil next June if they take a point against Ireland in Cologne tomorrow.

But the 52-year-old Matthaeus, who made a record 150 appearances for Germany, is backing the current squad to lift the Brazil 2014 title.

“They are stronger, because there is more depth in the squad,” Matthaeus told Cologne newspaper Express. “There are 30 to 35 players, Joachim Loew has double or even triple cover in each position.”

Matthaeus says the current Germany is well equipped to lift the World Cup for the fourth time following their 1954, 1974 and 1990 triumphs.

“The atmosphere (in the squad) is great. There is no rivalry between players from Bayern Munich and Dortmund,” added Matthaeus. “There is good communication in the team. The conditions are almost perfect to reach the major goal next year.”

© AFP 2013

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    Mute Spud Head
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    Oct 10th 2013, 3:02 PM

    Sorry lothar but we have Paul Green :)

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    Mute Jason Naughton
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    Oct 10th 2013, 4:54 PM

    He did say conditions were almost perfect.

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    Mute Martin O Donoghue
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    Oct 10th 2013, 5:23 PM

    Germany -2 get on it now at evens. Like shooting fish in a barrel

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    Mute Mick Rooney
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    Oct 10th 2013, 4:59 PM

    Another headline grabbing journal.ie piece. Nowhere in that article given to a German paper did he directly address the Irish team or fans. He simply made the point that he believes this German team is better than the ones he played in during the 1990s. If you don’t have a valid sporting news story of your own, journal.ie, stop trying to create one!

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    Mute willie
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    Oct 10th 2013, 5:13 PM

    Who pissed in your corn flakes????

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    Mute Shane Kearney
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    Oct 10th 2013, 5:17 PM

    But to be fair Mick, most Irish people are unlikely to get the chance to read the German paper it was published in, and for people who may not be too familiar with the current German side, it may give a bit of a pointer as to how highly rated they are at the moment

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    Mute Anthony
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    Oct 10th 2013, 7:16 PM

    and how it might mean a roasting for the boys.

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