Ballack "by and large" in agreement with Klinsmann

DUESSELDORF, Germany, Jun 1 (Reuters) Trying to douse reports he was critical of Juergen Klinsmann, Germany captain Michael Ballack said today he was ''by and large'' in agreement with his coach on strategy.

Ballack said Germany urgently needed to bolster their defence in their final World Cup warm-up match on Friday against Colombia even if that meant a dull match for the spectators.

''We talk a lot and he knows my views,'' Ballack said when asked about an interview in which he appeared to contradict his coach by calling for an end to experiments.

''We don't need to talk every day. He's the trainer and sets up the system that he wants us to play.

''By and large we're in agreement. On some points we have different views. If everyone expressed their opinions aloud all the time we'd have chaos.'' Klinsmann has come under renewed attack in Germany after fellow World Cup qualifiers Japan took advantage of poor defence to build a 2-0 lead on Tuesday before the hosts equalised late in the warm-up game.

It recalled their 4-1 drubbing by Italy in March and prompted new calls for Klinsmann to install a sweeper in front of the defence, something Ballack said was unlikely to happen.

''We saw against Japan that we have not yet improved the weaknesses we've had in defence in the last two years under Juergen Klinsmann,'' he said.

''That's the risk of this philosophy but we cannot afford to play at all-out risk.'' Ballack said the basis of the team that will open the World Cup on June 9 against Costa Rica should be in place for Friday's match in Moenchengladbach. He said he was not contradicting Klinsmann's view that it is was an opportunity for more testing.

''It depends on what you understand by the word 'test','' Ballack said.

''If a player or two is being tested, that's okay. But the basic foundation has to be set up. The framework of the team to play on June 9 has to be out there.'' Philipp Lahm, who has missed much of Germany's training camp with an injured elbow, is likely to return to the lineup for at least one half, assistant coach Joachim Loewe said. Lahm will play with a protective plastic cast for four to six weeks.

Ballack said he hoped German fans understood the need to concentrate on improving the defence.

''It would be nice not to give away any goals because that would give us all added confidence,'' Ballack said. ''We've got enough players who can score goals. Discipline is the key.'' Germany won 4-3 against Australia in last year's Confederations Cup. Their next match was a 3-0 win over Tunisia.

''The Tunisia match might not have been as attractive to watch but we dominated them throughout,'' Ballack said.

''That's what I'd envision us doing against Colombia. Matches like that may not be fun to watch but they give the team confidence and that's what we want to see.'' Reuters PG RN1929