Finland hold Germany

Oliver Neuville wasted one of Germany's chances

Germany 0-0 Finland

Germany will have to beat the Ukraine in a two-legged play-off in November if they are to maintain their unblemished World Cup qualification record.

If Germany, with England drawing 2-2 with Finland at Old Trafford in Manchester, had won in Gelsenkirchen, Rudi Völler's side would have qualified automatically.

But the draw with Finland left Germany in an unfamiliar second place on goal difference.

We played without courage in the first half and did not take enough risks

German coach
Rudi Völler

After a disappointing first-half display, Germany dominated the second period and created enough chances to win this Group Nine qualifier.

Völler had recalled Oliver Bierhoff - the Monaco player was also Germany's captain - but the nationalmannschaft's Euro 96 hero spurned three gilt-edge opportunities.

Just past the hour he crashed his shot against the bar with Antti Niemi well beaten.

Then Bierhoff latched on to Christian Ziege's long pass but directed his shot straight at the Finnish keeper.

Chased

Niemi also denied Bierhoff when he pushed the German captain's header away after Oliver Neuville's corner.

As Germany desperately chased a goal Bierhoff also hit the bar and from the rebound Oliver Neuville somehow could not convert the rebound.

Niemi had a superb game for Finland and late in the game he again did well to beat away Michael Ballack's powerful shot.

Rudi Völler (l) will have to beat Ukraine in play-offs

Liverpool's Jari Litmanen was Finland's most threatening attacking player and Oliver Kahn saved well from the Finn in the second-half.

Just after the restart the German substitute Gerald Asamoah had to deny Aki Riihilahti when he was put through by Litmanen's superb pass.

Initially Germany had put Finland on the back foot, forcing a corner in the first minute through Sebastian Deisler - but it came to nothing.

Three minutes later Finland were relieved when Oliver Neuville was harshly adjudged offside.

More positive

But Germany needed a last-ditch challenge by central defender Jens Novotny to deny Finland's Mika Nurmela a clear shot at Kahn's goal.

Just past the half-hour Tottenham's Ziege made ground down the left and crossed for Neuville, but his shot from 15 yards flew high over Niemi's bar.

Finland continued to look the more positive side, and Kahn was forced to make a good low save in the 38th minute.

The Bayern keeper did well to deal with Janne Saarinen's free-kick which took an awkward deflection off Carsten Ramelow.

Afterwards, German coach Rudi Völler said: "Given the way we played in the second half, I can't really blame the players.

"We kept trying and gave our best but that golden goal just never came. It was not a scenario for a weak heart."

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Germany: Kahn, Rehmer, Worns, Nowotny, Ziege, Ramelow, Ballack, Bohme, Deisler, Neuville, Bierhoff. Subs: Lehmann, Klose, Asamoah, Frank Baumann, Bode, Ricken, Schneider.

Finland: Niemi, Reini, Saarinen, Hyypia, Tihinen, Riihilahti, Nurmela, Tainio, Litmanen, Forssell, Johansson. Subs: Jaaskelainen, Wiss, Gronlund, Kuqi, Helin, Kuivasto, Kallio.

Referee: Anders Frisk (Sweden).