German players relax in Sardinia before hard work starts

CAGLIARI, Italy, May 18: Germany's World Cup squad are spending more time on the beach than with a ball at their feet but for coach Juergen Klinsmann a ''regeneration'' camp on the holiday island of Sardinia is serious business.

''Building team spirit is absolutely fundamental to us,'' Klinsmann said on Thursday from the team's five-star resort near Cagliari.

''When you have that, and when you're feeling fully fit, it gives you self-belief and makes you feel stronger.'' The World Cup hosts' focus on team-building rather than tactics or technique was clear from the squad's first training session yesterday.

After a session of barefoot stretching, the players took part in a game of handball played on half a pitch and gathered at the end in a circle for some group therapy.

David Odonkor, who has yet to win his first international cap and was the big surprise in Klinsmann's squad, called out ''We are a ...'' with his colleagues shouting ''Team!'' three times in response.

Unusually, the players have brought their families with them to the resort and they should not be feeling too neglected.

Klinsmann has scheduled a couple of brief training sessions a day but otherwise the players are free to play golf or beach volleyball, or just relax.

''Whatever is fun for the players works,'' Klinsmann said. The holiday atmosphere won't last much longer, however.

On Sunday, the host country's squad fly to Geneva for an intensive training camp that will last until May 30.

The partners and children will go home and the players, with the exception of the injured Philipp Lahm, will once again be working with American fitness coach Mark Verstegen.

''We'll get the players into top fitness in Geneva,'' Klinsmann said.

Geneva will also see the arrival of first choice goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, who was sent off early in Arsenal's 2-1 defeat by Barcelona in the Champions League final on Wednesday.

Germany have friendly internationals lined up against Luxembourg on May 27, Japan on May 30 and Colombia on June 2.

They get the World Cup underway against Costa Rica in Munich on June 9 and also play Poland and Ecuador in Group A.

REUTERS