Klinsmann - penalties 'like a Hitchcock movie'

Jun 30, 2006, 19:20 GMT

Berlin - Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann said he always believed his side would come back after going a goal down to beat Argentina - and that he could depend on Jens Lehmann if it came to a penalty shoot-out.

'We have a strong belief in Jens Lehmann. As a former striker I would not want to face him at penalties. He proved it. He seems to have a sense of where to go,' Klinsmann said.

'Everybody is very happy. It was a thriller, like a Hitchcock movie.'

The Arsenal keeper saved twice in the penalty shoot-out, diving to his left to save from Roberto Ayala and Esteban Cambiasso.

'We knew it was going to be a tough game. These were the two best teams so far in the tournament and we knew that small things were going to decide that came,' Klinsmann said.

'They scored from a corner out of nothing but we always believed we could come back, even if it would go all the way to penalties.

'It's always tough for the team that loses. But we are very proud of our team. There were five players out there who could be playing for the under-21 side. We have a very young side guided by older players.

'We always believed in ourselves. Even when it went to penalties we thought we would do it.'

Klinsmann said it was an 'emotional moment' but the job now was to keep the players concentrated for the semi-final in Dortmund on Tuesday.

'We must not relax. We must face the next tough hurdle. We will have a fantastic crowd behind us in Dortmund, and we will need this crowd, and we are capable of anything but it will be a lot of work and we can expect another thriller.'