Klinsmann and Matthaus bury the hatchet

HELSINKI, May 19 (AFP)

Bitter German rivals Jurgen Klinsmann and Lothar Matthaus promised to put their differences behind them on Tuesday and do their best to promote team harmony ahead of next month's World Cup finals. Housed with the rest of the German squad at a training camp in Helsinki, the two men were called to the room of coach Berti Vogts on Monday evening for a face-to-face talk.In the past they have waged ugly verbal wars against each other in the press and freely admit they are not friends.Matthaus' recall to the national side after a 3 1/2-year absence has forced the pair to reconsider their fued. " I was happy with the atmosphere of the talk, " Vogts said. " Both have achieved their greatest sucesses together, they were world champions together (1990) and were also very successful in their shared times at Inter Milan and Bayern Munich. " Klinsmann said the pair had vowed they would have no further rows. " In future we have promised ourselves to discuss problems straight away, "   Klinsmann said. " That way we have the basis for optimal co-operation. There is no problem on my side about Lothar's return to the national side. He has had a fantastic season and deserves his recall. " Noted for his often reckless comments to the press, there is great pressure on 37-year-old Matthaus to be on his best behaviour. " It's not about Jurgen or me, but about the whole of German football, " he said diplomatically. " What was in the past is now forgotten. I have learnt from my mistakes. I will accept every decision by the trainer. I want to fit in with the rest of the team. " That will mean playing second fiddle to Olaf Thon if the Schalke defender returns to full fitness in time after tearing ankle ligaments. Thon is Germany's designated libero in the absence of Mathias Sammer and Matthaus has been recalled as a form of insurance in case more experience in defence is needed. Matthaus will be competing in his fifth World Cup-a record.He has 122 caps to his name and will defititely add to that during the Helsinki training camp because of friendlies against Finland and Colombia. Matthaus and the rest of the Bayern Munich players did not train with the rest of the squad Monday, their first day away. They were limited to jogging after Sunday's German Cup victory over Duisburg 24 hours earlier. Matthaus is eager to make up for Germany's disappointment four years ago in the United States, when Bulgaria eliminated them in the quarter-finals. After such a prolonged absence he is still getting used to the thrill of representing his country again. " It was a bit strange putting on all the national gear again, " the Bayern libero smiled. " But the colours suit me. "