Coach Leaves Door Open for World Cup Aspirants

Speaking at a two-day, get-together with 26 of his international players, Klinsmann said: "From now on, the doors are open to everyone."

He added he was happy with the form of the players about five months before the tournament's opening match which pits them against Costa Rica on June 9.

Of the 28 internationals called up, only Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann and Chelsea defender Robert Huth were not released for the weekend of physical tests and publicity appearances.

"We have done a lot of publicity for our sponsors, but from now on, we want to focus completely on the sporting aspect," continued Klinsmann, who said the weekend was also a chance to forge a stronger team spirit.

Count-down includes Japan, U.S.

The squad will next get together on February 26 in Frankfurt before the first of four World Cup warm-up matches against Italy on March 1 in Florence.

"We are taking this match very seriously and are very optimistic. We want to beat Italy," Klinsmann added. Germany's other friendlies before the June 9 to July 9 soccer extraganza are against the United States, Japan and Colombia.

Klinsmann will call up 21 or 22 players for the Italy match and that squad should stay the same for the Dortmund friendly against the USA on March 22.

Most of the squad, from the keeper positions to the midfield and offense seem set in stone. Though Klinsmann hasn't named his starter in goal, he'll pick from either Lehmann or Oliver Kahn, with Timo Hildebrand remaining the third option.

Midfield

Bayern's Michael Ballack, Sebastian Deisler and Bastian Schweinsteiger as well as Leverkusen's Bernd Schneider and Bremen's Tim Borowski are locks for the midfield.

The defensive side of the midfield is a lot more up in the air. Dortmund's Sebastian Kehl has been heating up in recent weeks, giving Fabian Ernst and Torsten Frings some fierce competition.

Strikers

Kevin Kuranyi, Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose will be responsible for the goal-scoring, with Klose the top pick among the three. But Nuremberg's yearling Stefan Kiessling has been on a tear recently, and might get a serious look in the coming months. Striking option Gerald Asamoah could have cause for concern.

Defense

Klinsmann's defense is shakier: Arne Friedrich, Philipp Lahm, Marcel Jansen and Per Mertesacker are solids. But questions remain about the towering Huth and Lukas Sinkiewicz in the central defense, both of whom are out of form. Christoph Metzelder, Germany's shooting star in the 2002 World Cup, is also having difficulty recapturing his form after a long injury break. Christian Wörns, the 33-year-old veteran pushed aside by Klinsmann, might make a better replacement.

After the World Cup squad is announced, Klinsmann will take his players to Sardinia for a few days rest with their families before some organized training in Switzerland.

Their final two friendlies against Japan and Colombia will be on May 30 and June 2 respectively.