BERLIN: Former Germany midfielder Andreas Moller (pic) backed his country to win their Euro 2012 semi-final tomorrow (2:45am) against Italy but expects a close affair and only to be decided by one decisive moment of "individual brilliance".

Germany have impressed so far in reaching the last four having gone through the tournament unbeaten and Moller expects them to continue their run and emerge victorious over the Italians.

"It will have to be a game of patience," he said.

“I expect a moment of individual brilliance to decide the game similar to the group-stage match against Holland when Mario Gomez scored both goals in great fashion.

"I am not surprised that Joachim Loew's team have done so well so far. It was clear to me that the title was only ours to lose. I am very optimistic. If we don't get in our own way then we can pull it off."

However, Moller shrugged off Germany’s poor record in the past against the Italians, saying Loew's side will be unaffected by past results.

"The young players are from a different generation and not interested whether Germany in the 1970s or 1980s won or lost against a particular opponent," he stressed.
 
“They only see the team that are in front of them. And they know of course that beating Italy will stay in everyone’s memory."

Moller was part of the victorious German side at Euro 96 – their last major international trophy. However, he conceded that comparisons are impossible with the current squad.

"You can't compare the two teams," he said. “It was a different time back then, the players were different, the football was different. Our great strength in 1996 was that we had leadership figures in the team. 

“German footballers already have a good mentality but our generation was particularly strong willed. That is important in winning a major title and naturally, one also needs a bit of luck," he said.


- mD

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