German players take target practice to extremes

BERLIN, June 28 (Reuters) German players have been used to hitting the target a this World Cup but they were faced with a different challenge today when they tried their hand at archery.

The team management arranged for the coach of the national archery squad to come to the team hotel and give the players instruction two days before their quarter-final against Argentina.

''It's an example of a sport where you need 100 percent concentration,'' assistant coach Joachim Loew told reporters.

It sounds like the players had some trouble with the change of sport.

''No comment,'' was all leading striker Miroslav Klose would say on his performance. Klose has scored four of the 10 goals Germany have scored in their four matches.

The change in activity is in keeping with Juergen Klinsmann's determination to give the players a variety of things to do at their pre-World Cup training camps.

During their camp in Sardinia they tried go-karting, while in Geneva the players took a day's course in watch-making.

REUTERS DH RAI2029