Worns wary of van Nistelrooy as Germans meet old rivals

RUUD van Nistelrooy is probably the last striker Germany’s nervous defenders want to meet in their current frame of mind, but he is the first they will face at Euro 2004 when they play Holland here tonight.

Germany, three-time European champions and World Cup runners-up two years ago, have had a poor build-up to the European Championship, losing 5-1 to Romania and 2-0 to Hungary.

The rivalry between the Dutch and the Germans will put Rudi Voeller's men under even more pressure and Van Nistelrooy is the man to exploit any weakness.