Optimism in Short Supply for National Team

German national Coach Jürgen Klinsmann is well-known for the optimism that he exudes in the team. From his home in California, he brought sunshine to a team that was mired in gloom. The response early on was positive, and the predictions, at least from Klinsmann, were bold -- Germany will get to the finals on home soil, just like in 1974.

It was the American attitude of "nothing ventured, nothing gained" that had infected Klinsmann in southern California. It worked at the Confederations Cup. They played exciting, open soccer before losing to a top-notch Brazil in the semifinals but then beating Mexico for third-place.

Since then, the squad, in some positions filled with young blood, built around star midfielder Michael Ballack have floundered with losses to Slovakia and Turkey. The defense, clearly the weak link in the German team, was failing them conspicuously, and the strikers weren't firing on all cylinders.

It was reason enough to become doubtful. The skeptics at home have begun to win the upper hand in the battle of the minds in the team and people around the country. Outgoing German Soccer Federation (DFB) president Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder launched the latest volley by saying the reshuffling of the team was "dangerous" before the World Cup.

"For this reason it would certainly be better, if the World Cup started two years later," he told the daily Stuttgarter Zeitung.

Friendly test against France

Despite the increasing doubts of a triumphant World Cup for Germany, Mayer-Vorfelder feels that the "Klinsmann system" must be given more time. The failure to cultivate young talent had been neglected in the past six years, he said, adding that "there was no way to compensate for that in six months."

Once the World Cup has ended, no matter how it may turn out, contract negotiations will likely be renewed with Klinsmann. Mayer-Vorfelder believes it would be best if the coach stayed on until 2008.

Despite what may be happening off the field, the team -- currently in 15th place -- can't shy away from directly competing with the top countries in the world. Next Saturday, it will have its hands full in Paris against the world's number five team, France.

Team manager Oliver Bierhoff also belongs to the sanguine staff around Jürgen Klinsmann, but even he sees the German team being in a state of disbelief about the quick fall since the Confed Cup in June. He told the Kieler Nachrichten newspaper that "turbulence" can be unleashed at any moment.

"It's our biggest goal to stand firm in France and to play a good friendly. But how it will turn out, nobody knows," he told the daily.

One advantage that the German squad may have heading to Paris is the uproar amongst many coaches of French international players against the l'equipe tricolor's strenuous program before the Germany match. Just three days before, they are playing a charity match on Martinique against Costa Rica. The proceeds are to go towards Martinique families who lost loved ones in a plane crash this summer. French teams, but also Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger for whom striker Thierry Henry plays, have loudly criticized the French Soccer Federation for this decision.

Maybe, just maybe, jet lag will play into Jürgen Klinsmann's hands.