International Career
Bierhoff made his debut for the German national team in a friendly against Portugal on 21 February 1996. In his second appearance on 27 March 1996, he managed to score his first two international goals in his country's 2–0 win over Denmark. Altogether Bierhoff scored 37 goals in 70 caps, including both goals in the 2–1 win over the Czech Republic in the Euro 1996 final after having come on as a substitute.
In an important qualification match on 20 August 1997, Germany trailed Northern Ireland, 0–1, with 20 minutes left when the manager of the national team, Berti Vogts, decided to send in Thomas Häßler and Oliver Bierhoff. Within seven minutes the former provided the latter with three assists, which Bierhoff turned into three goals, scoring the fastest hat-trick in the history of the German national team.
Bierhoff also played in Euro 2000, and both the 1998 and 2002 World Cups. He made his last appearance for his country when he was brought on during the second half of the World Cup 2002 final against Brazil, but was unable to help the Germans score in the 0–2 loss.
Read more about this topic: Oliver Bierhoff
Famous quotes containing the word career:
“Each of the professions means a prejudice. The necessity for a career forces every one to take sides. We live in the age of the overworked, and the under-educated; the age in which people are so industrious that they become absolutely stupid.”
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900)