DFB hopes to win goodwill of Germany fans with T-shirts

BERLIN, Mar 16 (Reuters) Fans in Dortmund will be given free T-shirts as part of an effort to head off a hostile reception for Germany when they play the United States in a friendly on Wednesday.

The German Football Association (DFB) said today 11,000 shirts would be given to supporters in the South stands of the Westfalenstadion.

''You for us and we for you'', reads the inscription, in Germany's black, red and gold colours, on the T-shirts.

The shirts, along with a decision to hold a public training session for Germany in the Dortmund stadium the day before the game, are aimed at rebuilding local goodwill towards the team and coach Juergen Klinsmann.

Officials fear Dortmund fans might boo Klinsmann and his team at the friendly after the coach said Borussia Dortmund defender Christian Woerns would play no role in the World Cup.

Klinsmann, under scrutiny since a 4-1 friendly defeat by Italy at the start of the month, has also faced criticism in Germany for his decision to keep living in the United States.

''The fans must be allowed to speak out and criticism is welcome but when the game starts, they must all stand behind the team,'' DFB president Theo Zwanziger said in a statement.

A DFB spokesman said no banner hostile to Klinsmann would be tolerated in the Dortmund stands.

Reuters PDS DB1834