Klinsmann magic turns critics to fans

STUTTGART, July 9 (Reuters) Juergen Klinsmann has done more than merely silence his critics after coaching Germany to a surprising third place finish at the World Cup.

He has turned those who criticised his methods and wanted him to quit just four months ago into ardent supporters who are now begging him to stay on with the national team.

''I'm totally overwhelmed by all the compliments that are coming from so many different directions,'' Klinsmann said after his team beat Portugal 3-1 in an action-packed third-place match yesterday that carried his high-pace, attacking signature.

''I can't put it into words. It can't get any better than this.

I need a few days to be able to understand all of this,'' he said amid calls from across the country for him to stay on.

Even the deafening chants of 52,000 fans repeatedly chanting his name in Klinsmann's home city of Stuttgart could persuade the Southerner to reveal if he will carry on or bow out.

''So much has crashed down upon our heads, on the team and the coaches,'' said Klinsmann, 41. ''We'd always warned everyone that the World Cup would be an avalanche, but we didn't know it was going to be as massive an avalanche as this.

''Everywhere you look across Germany, in the towns and villages, the people are celebrating like never before,'' he said.

''I need a few days. I can't really locate where I am right now,'' added Klinsmann when asked about his expiring contract with the national team.

BEAUTIFUL TIME While the coach showed no signs of being in a hurry to make up his mind, goalkeeper Oliver Kahn seized the moment after yesterday's win to announce the end of his international career.

After a brilliant performance against Portugal in his only appearance of the tournament, which provided at least some compensation for losing his first-team place to Jens Lehmann, Kahn walked up to the first microphone he saw and said: ''That was my last international match -- you could hardly ask for a better match to go out on. It was a beautiful time but you have to know when it's all over.'' Kahn, who earend 86 caps for Germany, was captain of the team that reached the World Cup final in 2002, where they lost 2-0 to Brazil. He also won the Golden Ball award given to the most valuable player of the 32-team tournament.

But Kahn was demoted in two stages by Klinsmann. First, he stripped him of the captaincy two years ago and gave that to midfielder Michael Ballack. Then he made Kahn compete with understudy Lehmann, who was chosen as the number one in April.

''That was the hardest phase of my career,'' Kahn told reporters after Saturday's win over Portugal.

''It was hard to stay in high spirits and keep a positive attitude. But it was an important experience. Sometimes you get your reward. That's why I'm so grateful for this match.'' REUTERS PM BST1516