BERLIN, June 7 (Reuters) - Germany heaved a sigh of relief on Thursday after a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Albania kept them firmly on course to qualify for the 2002 World Cup finals.
'It wasn't pretty, but it was so important,' said the mass circulation Bild newspaper of Wednesday night's group nine away win in Tirana. 'All our worries are now over.'
Painful memories of the dismal German showing in the 2000 European championships resurfaced on Saturday after a shock 2-2 draw in Finland.
But goals by Marko Rehmer and Michael Ballack secured victory against Albania in a scrappy game that ended with both sides reduced to 10 men after the dismissal of Germany's Carsten Ramelow and Albania's Edvin Murati.
Germany lead group nine with 16 points from six games, six ahead of second-placed England who have played a game less.
'The door to the World Cup stands wide open now,' roared the Osnabruecker Zeitung newspaper in a front page headline.
Team manager Rudi Voeller was more cautious. 'The victory was a step towards the World Cup, but we are certainly not through yet,' he warned, adding qualification would only be secured with two more victories.
Germany play England at home in their next qualifying match on September 1 before playing Finland on October 6.
- NEWS
