Germany Wants Klinsmann to Stay

The headlines calling for Klinsmann's head after a loss to Italy in an exhibition match in March were clear.

"Inexperienced and Overwhelmed" and "Get Rid of Klinsi!" were among the most unambiguous.

Now, after a trip to the semi-finals and another loss to Italy, no one is willing to let go of the trainer who the nation's parliament called in to explain his plan for Germany's soccer team, and the papers are glowing.

"You're Still Our Heroes" and "Soccer Reformer Klinsmann Should Stay" both make the popular case for Klinsmann to remain with the German team.

Beckenbauer changes his tune

Even one of his harshest critics, German soccer legend and World Cup Organizing Committee president Franz Beckenbauer -- who wanted the German Soccer Association (DFB) to have a replacement for Klinsmann on the "back burner" before Germany lost Tuesday night to Italy -- said it would be a shame for Klinsmann to leave the German team after bringing in so many young players to create what Klinsmann himself called the "new face of German soccer."

"I hope very much that he stays," Beckenbauer said. "He has young players who trust him and who he trusts. It would be a real shame if this team fell apart."

After pronouncing his pride in what the German team accomplished with its unexpected entry into the semi-finals, in an interview with Germany's sid sports news agency Klinsmann said his future is still up in the air and called his contract situation "irrelevant."

"I'm not wasting time on thinking about it at the moment," Klinsmann said. "After a tournament like this you need to get yourself together and let everything sink in.

"For two years I have put all my energy into and have thought about nothing other than reaching the final," he added. "I am going to take the next few days to talk with my wife and family and then come to some kind of decision."

Rumors of US job continue to swirl

Before the World Cup Klinsmann turned down an offer from the German Soccer Association (DFB) to extend his contract, maintaining that he would evaluate his options and make his decision based on the team's performance in the tournament.

One of those options is still rumored to be a spot at the top of the United States team. Last week Klinsmann rejected the idea, saying he was putting all his energy into World Cup preparations. But Tuesday's London Daily Telegraph reported that a preliminary contact had

been made for Klinsmann to take over the US helm.

Decision needed by mid-August

Klinsmann lives in California, his wife is American and he is viewed as the ideal man to replace Bruce Arena, whose future with the US team is uncertain. The newspaper claimed that the Americans will put a deal on the table that exceeds the 1.5 million pounds (2.2 million euros, $2.8 million) a year Klinsmann earns with Germany.

DFB president Theo Zwanziger, long a Klinsmann supporter, said he would give the coach more than the few days he asked for to make up his mind.

"The only deadline is our first national team match against Sweden on Aug.16," he said. "He needs to have decided by then."