German players praying for Pessotto

BERLIN, June 29 (Reuters) Germany's World Cup players are praying for Juventus team manager Gianluca Pessotto, coach Juergen Klinsmann said today.

Pessotto, the former defender, is in a serious condition after falling from a window at the Serie A club's headquarters.

''We've been talking about him at the team hotel,'' Klinsmann, who spent part of his playing career in Italy, said at a news conference today.

''We're thinking about him, praying for him and hoping he gets well.

It's terrible for the Italian team to have one of their best friends in this situation.'' Germany play Argentina in the World Cup quarter-finals in Berlin tomorrow. Italy play Ukraine in Hamburg later the same day and the Germans and the Italians could meet in the semi-finals.

Reuters DH RS2041