Jun 23, 2006, 15:46 GMT
Berlin - Germany will have to play to their physical and mental limit to overcome Sweden in their last-16 encounter, coach Juergen Klinsmann said Friday.
'The moment has come when we have to go to our limit physically and mentally. I believe in the willpower we have in this team and I am very confident,' said Klinsmann in Berlin.
'We have a good feeling, a feeling that the team has a great deal of self-belief and is fired up for this game,'
The German team left for Munich for Saturday's match with Klinsmann saying he was 'absolutely convinced' his side would advance into the quarter-finals.
'We have all 23 players on board. All are fit, all are looking forward to this last-16 game and the stadium in Munich where we played our opening game,' he said.
'We have great respect for Sweden. They have some some outstanding players who are playing at top clubs in Europe but we are optimistic, full of confidence and we have worked very hard and intensively for this moment when the knock-out stage begins.'
Klinsmann meanwhile denied linking his future as national team coach to Germany's progressing through the next two rounds, following an interview in which he said his minimum aim was the semi-finals.
'The remarks were not meant that it had anything to do with my personal future. But our expectations as a football nation do not stop at the last 16 or quarter-finals, especially in a World Cup in our own country,' he said.
There was no additional pressure on the team as a result of his comments. 'The team is motivated to the maximum and knows what it can do,' he added.
Temperatures in Munich for Saturday are expected to be up to 30 Celsius, but defender Philipp Lahm said the heat would not prove a problem.
'We are top fit. It showed against Ecuador that it helps if you can get an early goal which allows you to sit back a bit and wait for counter-attacks,' said.
'Perhaps it will be an advantage to get an early goal. But we also showed against Poland we can go full out for 90 minutes and attack and create chances.'
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