Matthaeus to draw World Cup groups

Former Germany captain Lothar Matthaeus has been invited by FIFA to draw the World Cup final groups in Leipzig on Dec. 9, he told Bild newspaper at the weekend. "It's a great honour for me," Matthaeus, who had a record 150 caps, told Bild. Matthaeus,...

Former Germany captain Lothar Matthaeus has been invited by FIFA to draw the World Cup final groups in Leipzig on Dec. 9, he told Bild newspaper at the weekend.

"It's a great honour for me," Matthaeus, who had a record 150 caps, told Bild.

Matthaeus, 44, is Hungary's coach. He was bypassed for the Germany job in 2004 that later went to Juergen Klinsmann, a former Germany team-mate and rival.

"We proposed Lothar to FIFA," said Germany's 2006 Organising Committee vice-president Wolfgang Niersbach.

Matthaeus said he and Klinsmann had overcome their differences. "By and large he is doing a good job," Matthaeus said. "But at the moment he's causing himself some problems. I'm sure he'll have it all sorted out. Germany will rise to the occasion at the World Cup."

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