Klinsmann Brings California Sunshine to Germany

When Jürgen Klinsmann was appointed national coach five months ago, experts and fans were wondering if the German soccer federation hadn't gone a little mad. The former international striker who helped lead Germany to victory in the 1990 World Cup had almost no coaching experience. Aside from spending his time assisting with an American soccer franchise in Los Angeles, Klinsmann didn’t really have much coaching clout to his name.

But the soccer federation DFB was in search of a new national head. The former coach, Rudi Völler, had just thrown in the towel after a devastating showing at the European Championships in June, and many people thought it was time for some old-fashioned discipline to come in and whip the tired team into shape.

The candidates from the old school, most notably Greek national coach and Euro 2004 champ Otto Rehhagel and former Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld, had rejected offers to take over the squad. With World Cup 2006 taking place in Germany, the DFB began looking further a field.

That’s when German soccer big-wigs focused on Klinsmann. It was time to bring in some California sunshine. And everyone agreed: optimism is one quality not lacking in Klinsmann's personality.

A firm believer in miracles

Soccer’s sunny boy came to Germany and immediately made waves. "I know that the fans in our country have one wish -- to win the 2006 World Cup. That is also my aim," Klinsmann told the media at his first press conference.

But he quickly realized and admitted to the public that the nation’s No. 1 goal could not be achieved with the squad that showed up at the Euro 2004, or at least not with their attitude. So, Klinsi, as he’s affectionately called, went to work. New players, new tactics and a new mentality were part of his game strategy.

Before the friendly with Brazil in September, he called in a fitness trainer from the US to consult with the players, a first on the national squad. He also started bringing on new players, which caused more than a few eyebrows to rise.

Klinsmann wanted to form the team according to his wishes. He told the German sports press agency, sid, that he and his assistant coach, Joachim Löw, and team manager, Oliver Bierhoff, wanted to create a new basic philosophy and convey it to the players. In addition, Klinsmann firmly believed that a new team identity would help Germany reach the ambitious goal of raising the World Cup trophy in 2006.

Throw out the old

After the disastrous performance in Portugal last summer, Klinsmann was practically given carte blanche in restructuring the squad. None of the members had 100 percent immunity.

He tossed long-time goalkeeping coach, Sepp Maier, who had sided with number one keeper, Oliver Kahn, in his public feud with rival Jens Lehmann. Keeping true to form in the rejuvenation process, Klinsmann hired his teammate from the 1996 European Cup champions, Andreas Köpke, to take over as goalie trainer. Meanwhile Kahn had to hand over the captain's armband to midfielder Micahel Ballack.

"King Kahn's" undisputed standing as the top goalkeeper was also thrown into doubt, although it is still unclear who could threaten him. Lehmann is sitting on the bench at his club Arsenal London, and many think Stuttgart's Timo Hilderbrand is too young.

Veterans like Dieter Hamann and Oliver Neuville (both 31) have completely fallen off the radar screen, having yet to play a match under Klinsmann.

"Certainly they still have a chance," Klinsmann told a news conference, only then to sign the players' death sentence on the squad by saying the "fact of the matter is that the players who have recently been on the team have a slight advantage."

Bring in the new

What is bad news for the experienced players is good news for young talent like Patrick Owomoyela, Per Mertesacker, Frank Fahrenhorst, Roberth Huth, Thomas Hitzlsperger. Klinsmann has given them the chance to prove themselves on the field.

With so many changes, casual spectators need a roster in their hand to know who's who on the team. In an interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung, Klinsmann said there are 30-35 candidates and cuts for the World Cup squad will be tough.

Despite a great start for Klinsmann's team -- five wins, one draw and the loss to South Korea -- it would be an exaggeration to say this team is up there with the best. In his column for the tabloid Bild, former German great Franz Beckenbauer cautioned against getting too euphoric. After all, the match against Brazil was the only one against a strong opponent.

Klinsmann, the eternal optimist, thinks differently. When asked by the Süddeutsche where Germany stood internationally, he responded that his team was among the top six to eight teams. But then such enthusiasm comes easily when he spends his Christmas holidays in the California sun while his players return to cold and dreary Germany.