Wednesday, September 8, 1999 Published at 23:13 GMT 00:13 UK
Ziege increases NI woe
Oliver Bierhoff celebrates Germany's first goal
Germany 4-0 Northern Ireland
Hat-trick hero Christian Ziege of Middlesbrough inspired Germany to an easy victory over Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland have already crashed out of the tournament, conceding seven goals in the same week as manager Lawrie McMenemy was offered a new contract.
His team were overwhelmed, failing get a single shot on target.
Ziege centred the loose ball to Bierhoff and emerged as man of the match by scoring Germanys next three goals before half time.
The first began in the centre circle when Lothar Matthaus made a perfect pass 40 metres to Oliver Neuville in the 16th minute.
The stylish winger tempted Northern Ireland's German-born keeper Maik Taylor off his line and then whipped the ball to Ziege who was waiting expectantly in the middle.
In the 33rd minute the Middlesbrough wing-back cut the Northern Irish defence apart after a lovely one-two with Bierhoff.
On the stroke of half time his hat trick was complete when Scholl danced by a flat-footed Northern Irish defender and slipped the ball through to Ziege.
Lawrie the joker
The second half was goalless, leaving McMenemy to joke afterwards: "I thought they were four very lucky goals and three of them were offside."
But the veteran was still proud of his players despite this second heavy defeat in four days.
"In the second-half we played for pride and I thought the players didn't let anyone down," he said.
"This was a very very hard game for us particularly when the Germans had to win.
Happy Boro man
Ziege is enjoying a new lease of life this season following his £4m move from AC Milan to Middlesbrough in the summer and he said: "I am very happy now.
"After starting well with Middlesbrough I wanted to also do well for the national team. It's fantastic and I'm back.
"I hope I can go back to Middlesbrough and keep playing well and also do well in my next game for Germany against Turkey."
Germany: Lehmann, Babbel, Ziege, Linke, Nowotny, Jeremies, Scholl, Neuville, Bierhoff, Matthaus, Bode. Subs: Butt, Neuendorf, Worns, Schneider, Nerlinger, Strunz, Janker.
Northern Ireland: Taylor, Nolan, Horlock, Lomas, Williams, Morrow, McCarthy, Lennon, Dowie, M. Hughes, Kennedy. Subs: Wright, A. Hughes, Jenkins, Rowland, Robinson, Gillespie, Quinn.
Referee: G Bikas (Greece)