Just don't mention the defence as Germany go on the attack

By Barry Whelan Jun 10, 2006, 12:30 GMT

Berlin - German players are obviously taking the country's image campaign for the World Cup to heart. Under coach Juergen Klinsmann the days of grinding out a result are a thing of the past.

In keeping with the country's Land of Ideas campaign to rebrand Germany as a place of creativity and innovation, the hosts have learned to go on the attack - with, at times, a certain amount of panache.

Whatever happened to Teutonic efficiency? In this land of poets, thinkers and mean centre-halves, whatever happened to keeping a clean sheet? Under Klinsmann, the Germans have become - to use another, more modern, cliche - 'proactive'.

They take the game to the opponents. But sometimes they forget to defend. The centre-halves these days are not the nasty hard-tackling Juergen Kohlers and Karl-Heinz Schnellingers of this world, they are nice young lads like Per Mertesacker and Christoph Metzelder. A bit too nice to their opponents, say the critics.

It could then be a rollercoaster ride for home fans at this World Cup if the 4-2 victory over Costa Rica in Munich Friday is an example of how Klinsmann's side is going to play.

The game was reminiscent of the Germans' first match at last summer's Confederations Cup when they overcame Australia 4-3. Germany kept on scoring - and leaking - goals throughout that tournament.

That was seen as the dress rehearsal for the World Cup. Plenty of time to iron out the creases. Yet the real thing looks remarkably similar. 'We wanted to entertain and captivate people - and we succeeded,' said Klinsmann, obviously delighted with the three points.

Klinsmann played down the two goals conceded to a Costa Rica side which despite its lack of enterprise exposed the German back four. The coach put it down to first-night nerves.

'In a game like that there is a bit of nervousness which leads to mistakes - we have to work on that a bit. But the team went off at a great pace and you are going to get situations when in getting back there are errors in the way you play together.'

Twice Germany were caught trying to play Costa Rica offside, and twice Paulo Wanchope was left free to shoot past Jens Lehmann. Stronger teams will have taken note.

'This defence is a nightmare,' said Bild newspaper Saturday. And its columnist, former international Guenter Netzer, wrote: 'The defence really is a cause for concern. If the team carries on playing the offside game it could be all over in the second round.'

Metzelder for one backs the new attacking philosophy even if it means he and his fellow defenders being exposed occasionally. Germany are trying to play a new, more direct style of game.

'It is a new style for us but for the spectators it is very good,' he said. 'One of our goals is to play good soccer. We play an open game and there is always a danger you will get hit on the counterattack.'

The positives so far outweigh the negatives. In Miroslav Klose, Germany have a striker on form. His two goals on his 28th birthday merely continued the long goalscoring streak he has been enjoying in the Bundesliga with Werder Bremen.

It should be only a matter of time before his 21-year-old strike partner, Lukas Podolski also finds the net. The Germans look potent down the left with attacking defender Philipp Lahm, scorer of the first goal, combining well with the lively Bastian Schweinsteiger, his team-mate at Bayern Munich.

The home side also showed - not for the first time - they could play a decent game without captain Michael Ballack whose calf injury was the source of much confusion and irritation. Both Klinsmann and Ballack, left off the team list, both denied talk of a rift. The midfielder will return for Wednesday's match against Poland in Dortmund on Wednesday provided he regains fitness.

Tim Borowski, who did well enough in the Ballack role, could well find himself back on the substitutes' bench.

But Klinsmann won't shy at making tough decisions. If only he could find some of that old defensive efficiency to go with the attacking zeitgeist he could be onto something in the Land of Ideas.