Friedel pays tribute to German keeper

Updated: Friday June 21, 2002 09:51 a.m. ET

ULSAN, South Korea, June 21 (Reuters) - Brad Friedel, the beaten U.S. keeper, paid tribute to his opposite number Oliver Kahn and said the German had been man of the match in the 1-0 World Cup quarter-final victory on Friday.

"We had our chances but the man of the match was their keeper. He played fantastic," said Friedel.

"We're a bit disappointed because we felt we should have won but that is why they're so good. They can play games like this -- when maybe they're not the best team -- and still win."

Friedel, who plays for English premier league Blackburn Rovers, agreed that the U.S. often outplayed the three-times winners.

"I think we did. That is why it is so frustrating. But this World Cup has been incredible. We were beaten but were never once played off the park."

The U.S. feared that the Germans' aerial superiority would prove the decisive factor and so it proved with Michael Ballack's winner coming from a free kick.

"We knew they would be good at set pieces -- he (Christian Ziege) put in a good ball."

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