We can return to the top: Oliver Kahn

Goalkeeper and captain Oliver Kahn believes Germany have the ability to be a top side again despite their disappointing World Cup campaign.

The Germans have never failed to qualify for the World Cup finals and have won the tournament three times.

But Germany face Ukraine in a World Cup playoff on Saturday, knowing that they will go down as the most unsuccessful side in their country's football history if they miss out on a place at next year's tournament in South Korea and Japan.

The second leg takes place in Dortmund next week.

But Kahn said: "We still have the potential of being one of the top sides again, we just couldn't put it together in our previous matches."

The Bayern Munich goalkeeper added: "All of us feel the pressure every minute and tomorrow it will be even bigger.

"Every player must cope with that pressure on his own. As for myself, I've been in such situations many times, playing for my club and the national team, so I think I can handle it well."

BACK INJURY

Kahn said that he had recovered from a back injury he suffered 10 days ago in training.

"I first felt it (pain) 10 days ago in practice but now I'm feeling great and ready to play," he said. "The doctors did a wonderful job and the pain is gone."

Germany coach Rudi Voeller, who admitted last week of being under enormous pressure to beat Ukraine, said he and his players knew all too well what was at stake in the two-legged tie.

"No one denies, there's big pressure on all of us, and all our players know the importance of these matches," he said.

"But the most important thing is not to let the fear of a possible failure overcome you. Our most important weapon is believing in ourselves, in our ability to beat Ukraine."

Voeller, who also said last week that he was particularly worried about Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko, insisted that he was not underestimating the rest of the Ukrainian team.

"There will be 10 other players beside Shevchenko on the pitch and our job is to watch out for all of them," he said.

"But of course, he is the most dangerous threat. The Kiev match is important, but everything will be decided in the second leg in Dortmund next Wednesday," Voeller added.

German soccer federation chief Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder said he was confident about the result but he put the match into perspective.

"I believe we will win," he said. "But if we don't, life in Germany will go on."