vintage völler sends west germany through published: sunday 5 october 2003, 14.34cet
rudi völler scored both goals as franz beckenbauer's team reached the semi-finals as group 1 winners, condemning spain to an early exit.
west germany went through to the euro '88 semi-finals as group 1 winners courtesy of a comfortable 2-0 victory against spain.
spain trailed franz beckenbauer's team by a solitary point heading into their final fixture of the group stage. they ended up three adrift, though, having been outplayed by a team starting to approach top gear for the first time at the finals.
with michel gonzález still suffering from a knee injury, the hugely influential lothar matthäus was free to drive through the middle. one such surge, followed by a delightful back-heel, made rudi völler's second goal, with the clinical striker applying an intelligent finish into the bottom corner.
the first was similarly vintage völler: jürgen klinsmann played the pass and the german no9 darted past genaro andrinúa to shoot beyond andoni zubizarreta and end a goal drought that had lasted more than seven internationals. spain threatened in fits and spurts thereafter but could have few complaints having once again been beaten by the better side.
