WORLD CUP ’94 : For U.S., 3-0 Loss to Germany Is Not All Bad : Soccer: Americans gain some respect by playing defending World Cup champions close until giving up two goals in final 11 minutes.

It was a game of contradictions.

Despite losing, 3-0, to defending World Cup champion Germany on Saturday, the U.S. national soccer team gained a measure of respect in its last international game of the year before 52,397 at Stanford Stadium.

The victorious Germans?

“I’m happy with the result, but I cannot be and will not be happy with our performance,” said Berti Vogts, Germany’s coach.

The United States, however, without some of its best players, felt much better about its 3-0 loss to Germany than it did last June when it lost, 4-3, to the Germans in Chicago.

“(Saturday) we were in the game the whole way,” said Sigi Schmid, a U.S. assistant coach.

Almost the entire game. In an attempt to catch the Germans after trailing, 1-0, the United States collapsed in the final 11 minutes, giving up two goals, one in the final minute.

But most of the Americans were willing to overlook that lapse because this was, after all, Germany, World Cup finalist in four of the last five tournaments.

“I was surprised at how technically good the American team was,” said Jurgen Klinsmann, a veteran striker of the 1990 World Cup championship team.

The Germans brought most of their first team for a three-game North American tour that started last Wednesday in Miami with a 2-1 loss to Argentina. They complete the trip Wednesday against Mexico in Mexico City.

Saturday, they met a team missing four potential starters for the World Cup--John Harkes, Tab Ramos, Roy Wegerle and Eric Wynalda. It was supposed to be a mismatch, but the German press was not kind to the German team despite its three-goal decision.

Reporters said a second-division team in Germany could have routed the Americans on Saturday. So, anything less than domination was unsatisfactory.

The Germans were disappointed in their inability to sustain attacks in the first half when the United States’ effort was less than impressive. Although Germany kept attacking, it was unable to score until 15 minutes 51 seconds were left in the half.

Andreas Moller scored on a header from a corner kick by Thomas Hassler, one of the world’s best midfielders.

There were other opportunities as well, but the Germans were called for being offside eight times in the first half.

“We were careless losing too many balls,” Vogts said.

Nonetheless, the United States was unable to mount much of a first-half attack. Ernie Stewart, who plays professionally in the Netherlands, had not been with the team recently and said he was uncomfortable with his new teammates.

Still, he was outstanding against the German defense by trying to create an attack.

“In the first half, we played with a little too much respect for the Germans,” Stewart said. “We made them look better than they were.”

In the second half, the U.S. team relaxed, and it showed.

For about 34 minutes, the game’s complexion changed. The United States passed crisply, tackled aggressively and made it competitive.

Then Moller took advantage of the Americans’ impatience in trying to tie the score as the game was winding down. Breaking through the defense, Moller beat Mike Lapper and passed to Stefan Kuntz, who leaped in the air to knock in the ball with his head for a 2-0 lead in the 79th minute.

Germany kept pressuring and finally, 10 minutes after Kuntz’s goal, it scored again when Moller dribbled down the left sideline, stopped suddenly and then kicked to Andreas Tom, who had a straight shot at the goal.

“I’m speechless at how well Moller has played for the last six months,” Vogts said.

Despite playing well at times, defender Alexi Lalas said the Americans were given a soccer lesson Saturday. For him, it was not even a moral victory.

“We have to put other teams under pressure,” he said. “(The Germans) tackle so hard. This was an (exhibition). If this is what they do in a ‘friendly’ game, we’re going to have to play more aggressive.”

Soccer Notes

Thomas Dooley, a former German citizen who joined the U.S. national team less than a year ago, was named the Honda soccer player of the year on Friday night. . . . “Playing against the Germans is very special for me,” Dooley said. “I know all the players and officials, and 90% of the media.” . . . The United States’ next international game is Jan. 15 against Norway at Tempe, Ariz. The United States had won four consecutive games until Saturday.