YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) - Oliver Bierhoff would like to be remembered for something else than his golden goal in the final of Euro 1996. A golden goal in Sunday's World Cup final (CBC, 7 a.m., EDT, TSN, 1 p.m., repeat, Monday 3 a.m. repeat) would be a fitting end to his international career - and one that would probably make the German striker unforgettable.

The final between Germany and Brazil will be Bierhoff's farewell match for Germany - if he gets to play at all. Bierhoff has been making brief appearances off the bench during the World Cup, although he did score one goal in the opening 8-0 rout of Saudi Arabia.

Coach Rudi Voeller may call upon his oldest player, especially if Germany is trailing Brazil as the final whistle nears.

Although he is not sure to play, Bierhoff is looking forward to the final.

"I feel great joy before this game," he said on Saturday. "Right now I am not thinking about my retirement, I'm concentrating on the match. Since I made the decision quite a long time ago, I haven't felt any nostalgia yet.

"But after the final whistle, when I take off my shoes, give them to our equipment man and tell him that he doesn't need to bother giving them back to me, that's when it's going to sink in and that's when it's going to hurt."

Bierhoff, a 34-year-old veteran of 69 games and 37 goals for Germany, is best remembered for the sudden-death goal against the Czech Republic that gave Germany the 1996 European title.

"It's normal, some players are remembered by a single action. But I think I also achieved a lot of other things. I'd prefer not to be remembered just for that goal and my ability in the air, but also for some foot work and shooting technique.

"In Italy, they are more aware of such things, in Germany, they were a bit underrated. In any case, I'm proud of my career."

That career has taken Bierhoff through three Bundesliga clubs, one Austrian side, three Italian Serie A teams and AS Monaco in the French league.

In 10 years in Italy, Bierhoff was top scorer in the league while with Udinese in 1998 and won the Italian championship with AC Milan the following year.

After being relegated to the bench at Monaco and falling out with coach Didier Deschamps, Bierhoff is not returning to the club.

"For me right now it's important we win the World Cup first and after that I will go on vacation and think about my future," said the suave, multilingual forward, who married the former girlfriend of the late NBA star Drazen Petrovic.

"I don't know what I'm going to do next season. I've not decided whether I will play again or whether I will quit," said Germany's 1998 player of the year and former captain.

Bierhoff said if he decides to quit, he will stay close to the game, working as a consultant for his sponsors. Bierhoff also has completed a correspondence university degree in business.

"If we win the final, it would be the absolute highlight of my career," he said. "But no matter how the match finishes, it's nice that I can have such a great ending to my career."