Voller drops Bierhoff

Germany coach Rudi Voller has dumped AC Milan veteran Oliver Bierhoff from his side to play Greece in a 2002 World Cup qualifier tomorrow night.

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Oliver Kahn takes over as captain from Bierhoff for the tough trip to play Greece in Athens. Voller confirmed this move for Kahn yesterday but has followed it up by dropping Bierhoff.

Bierhoff captained the German team in their poor 2-1 win over Albania on Saturday but he is in poor form for both club and country and is almost certain to move from Milan in the summer.

Voller has denied that Bierhoff is to be axed permanently as captain but he will decide the striker's fate later this week and depending on the performance and result in Greece. But Bierhoff's removal from the starting line up clearly indicates that Voller wants a new captain to work alongside the players.

Voller said today in Athens that Bierhoff's place in attack would go to burly Bayern Munich centre forward Carsten Jancker.

"The only certainty is that our attacking line will be lead by Carsten Jancker who has recovered from an injury and is ready to take over from Oliver Bierhoff."

"The game with Greece will be difficult but I would say it will be easier than the Albania match last week. This is because we will be playing away from home and the pressure to win will be off us and on them. Winning against Albania was essential as we were playing in front of our fans, on Wednesday things will be different."

Although Germany have won their three games so far in group nine the Jens Jeremies, Dietmar Hamann and Carsten Remelow midfield selection by Voller was a clear failure and the coach will make changes to play in Greece.

The scorer of Saturday's 88th minute winner - Miroslav Klose - will start the match alongside Jancker with Bierhoff demoted to substitute.