Klinsmann deflects criticism of dodgy defence

DUESSELDORF, Germany, May 31 (Reuters) Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann defended his team's back four today after they gave up two goals and a half dozen chances in a 2-2 draw against Japan in a World Cup warm-up match.

''There will always be mistakes,'' Klinsmann said before a first training session in the Rhine river city of Duesseldorf after the squad left their training camp in Geneva yesterday.

''Our aim is to minimise the number of mistakes and make sure everyone covers for each other. But we'll never completely prevent mistakes from happening. They're a part of football.'' Naohiro Takahara, who scored both Japan's goals, said: ''Germany have a good team but with their defence, all you need is a pass and there was always one of us alone in front of the goal.'' Klinsmann's boss at the German football association (DFB) Theo Zwanziger, normally an ardent supporter of the coach and his offensive style of play, was suprised at all the chances Japan had.

''We could have given up five or six goals,'' said Zwanziger, the DFB co-president. ''That's got to make us all worried.'' But Klinsmann dismissed fears his offensive strategy left the team vulnerable to counter attacks after the speedy Japanese opened a 2-0 lead midway through the second half that revived memories of Germany's 4-1 defeat against Italy in March.

''We believe we're all one unit,'' Klinsmann said. ''If we lose the ball, then everyone has to go all out to get the ball back as soon as possible. Everyone has to work for each other. We'll discuss the mistakes critically but internally.'' He also brushed off criticism that he has used 20 different defensive formations in the last two years and said he would continue testing different line-ups until the World Cup's opening match against Costa Rica on June 9.

''We'll use the four defenders that we feel fit a match the best,'' he said, adding the final warm-up match against Colombia on Friday might not necessarily be the same as on June 9.

''We're still testing. You'll all have to wait and see.'' Injured left back Philipp Lahm could play against Colombia in Moenchengladbach.

''Philipp is in our planning. We hope he'll be able to play, but we'll have to see whether he is fully ready,'' Klinsmann added.

REUTERS PG KP1852