Two difficult games to come, Klinsmann tells players

By Barry Whelan Jul 1, 2006, 1:17 GMT

Berlin - Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann said he was convinced his side would hit back after going a goal behind to Argentina - and that goalkeeper Jens Lehmann would be the hero in a penalty shoot-out.

But even in the moment of victory he was already thinking ahead to the semi-finals and the final on July 9. As the German players celebrated in the dressing room, Klinsmann said he quietly reminded them that 'we have two difficult games ahead of us'.

The coach, who had made the semi-finals his minimum World Cup aim, never had any doubts his side would not beat Argentina in a tense quarter-final in Berlin's Olympic Stadium.

'I never had the feeling that we would not win. We knew we would come back to score. We have confidence in our penalty takers and in this exceptional goalkeeper,' Klinsmann said.

'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 game,' 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.'

Klinsmann said the game was evenly balanced 'but I think we deserved to win it even though it went to penalties because we had the better chances and the greater power going forward'.

Germany were 'a bit hectic' in the first half when Argentina dominated possession but Klinsmann said he was not worried.

'We said at half-time, it's OK. They are human beings. We said 'just stay calm and things will settle'. It's just natural.'

But the way Argentina approached the game showed they had 'a lot of respect for us', Klinsmann added. 'They adapted their team to our strengths. They didn't start with (Esteban) Cambiasso and (Javier) Saviola. They took off (Juan) Riquelme and (Hernan) Crespo. These were signs that they had a lot of respect for us'.

The victory was an 'emotional moment' but the job now was to keep the players focused for the semi-final in Dortmund on Tuesday, Klinsmann said.

'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. We are capable of anything but it will be a lot of work and we can expect another thriller.'