Football

06/23/2006

Interview with German Coach Jürgen Klinsmann

"Only After We're World Champions"

How successful does the German team need to be? Coach Jürgen Klinsmann has set the bar high. Ahead of his teams second round match against Sweden on Saturday, SPIEGEL ONLINE spoke with him about criticism, his own future, and how far his team will get.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Mr. Klinsmann, if the German team loses against Sweden on Saturday...

Jürgen Klinsmann: … I won't think about that. I'm convinced we'll make it to the quarterfinals.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: You're ruling out a possible loss to Sweden?

Klinsmann: Yes, that's the way to put it. In soccer you're judged on wins and losses. I have no problem with that.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: But you wouldn't argue that everything's hanging on this game against Sweden?

Klinsmann: Of course not. We need the pressure. The team will play this game very aggressively. Coaches have to guard against spending a single minute feeling complacent. Otherwise things would fall apart. This knock-out game is key; it will determine whether fans see the work we've done as good or bad. All our work -- the past two years' worth.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: It must be frustrating to think it could go wrong in a single bad bounce off a goalpost.

Klinsmann: Yes, but that's soccer. The players know it too. We keep making it clear to them that this is their World Cup. I think it's fascinating; as of now it's sink or swim. I'd rather think positively about our chances than debate whether I should live in Germany or California.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: German Football Association President Theo Zwanziger thinks the second round will be more important for you than for the team -- as a test of your coaching philosophy.

Klinsmann: I say this earnestly: As representatives of German soccer, we can't lose in the round of sixteen.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: You won't even feel proud of turning in a strong performance if the team loses?

Klinsmann: The coach of the national team is judged on results. In this case, even dropping out as late as the quarterfinals would be a catastrophe. This bit of coaching philosophy, I think, should continue in Germany -- and it's not something I dreamed up.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Is your new offensive strategy firmly established in the team now? Will it be part of the German game for years to come?

Klinsmann: We knew we had to do something to compete internationally, and we knew this new system of play would help. We just have to learn to dominate the game at a fast tempo. That's the only way we'll be successful.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: That strategy can be very tiring.

Klinsmann: Which is why we've placed so much emphasis on fitness. We need to play fast for a full 90 minutes, even 120. And the players think they can do that, so they know why they have to perform so many exercises. We also know the backup players have to perform at that level. Thomas Hitzlsperger, Jens Nowotny, Sebastian Kehl -- they all know the game they need to play. It's been drilled into their heads.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: And will the public accept it?

Klinsmann: That will come with victory. And, of course, if the fans see the team pushing its limits.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Public resistance to innovations in the German game have nevertheless been very pronounced. Why?

Klinsmann: Because we've been too focused on Germany itself. The German league is booming, and our infrastructure is now world class; I think people have forgotten to look at trends in other sports or how international soccer is changing. From day one the coaching staff has been aware that we need to be more compact on the field and play better tactically as a team. Only a player who trains hard can play hard. That's our mentality. Other nations can separate the two.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Which ones?

Klinsmann: The Italians can stand around for two hours on the practice field, do a little stretching -- and then turn on the switch for a game. We're different.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: What did the three group-phase matches teach you?

Klinsmann: We still haven't come up against players of the caliber of Swedish forwards Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrik Larsson, or (midfielder) Fredrik Ljungberg. We'll have to be very vigilant with them.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Aren't you exaggerating a little? The Swedes embody the old German style -- compact and hard-fighting, but with limited skills.

Klinsmann: The Swedes are especially dangerous in set situations; they can kick precise corners. They also maintain a fast pace through the entire game. It's very impressive. We have to put pressure on the Swedish wingers and keep them from crossing in. As soon as they get the ball, forget it.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: What will be the point where you can say, "That was a successful World Cup"?

Klinsmann: On July 9th, after the final. Naturally a strong game like Ivory Coast vs. Argentina will raise a few eyebrows. But every team here is beatable, including Argentina. We're playing our own game, and for me the World Cup will be a success only after we're world champions.

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