Voeller admits Irish upset tactics

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IBARAKI, Japan (Reuters) -- German coach Rudi Voeller admitted that a fighting Irish performance had thrown his game plan into disarray but he still had high hopes of reaching the second round despite a 1-1 draw in group E on Wednesday.

Robbie Keane's injury time goal prevented the Germans becoming the first of the 32 teams to claim a last 16 place after a Miroslav Klose goal left them 1-0 ahead at the end of 90 minutes.

Voeller, whose side still tops the group thanks to its 8-0 thrashing of Saudi Arabia in its first match, admitted his players were already dreaming of the next round before the job was done.

"That's what makes it all the more bitter for us," he said, "We will have a bad night tonight."

Voeller, who won the 1990 World Cup as a player, added: "We never really freed ourselves from the pressure they applied on us. Getting the goal was inevitable, I guess.

"We had an ideal start and at halftime we resolved not to give in to Irish pressure. It never worked out -- we were pushed far too deep and in the end we paid for it.

"On the other hand we still top the group and a win against Cameroon will take us through to the last 16.

"We have everything in our own hands, so we'll see how tomorrow's match goes and then prepare for our own match."

Ireland plays the Saudis on June 11 in Yokohama and Germany takes on Cameroon in Shizuoka on the same day. On Thursday, the Africans meet Saudi Arabia in Saitama.

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