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World Cup: Emotional Klinsmann asks for more time

German head coach Juergen Klinsmann, left, and German assistant coach Joachim Loew celebrate after midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger (not pictured) scores the third goal for his team during the third place playoff game between Germany and Portugual on Sunday in Stuttgart. PHOTO: AFP

Germany manager Jurgen Klinsmann said he was overcome with emotion after the hosts secured third place at the World Cup with a 3-1 win over Portugal here on Saturday and emphasized that he needed time and a clear head to decide his future.

"It is difficult to put into words what happened tonight. It went beyond what we have seen in the past three weeks," Klinsmann said. "So much has happened in the last few weeks and I haven't taken it all on board yet. Give me a few days."

"I am overwhelmed by emotion at the moment and need to process things in my mind before making a decision," he said.

Klinsmann's contract has now expired and the German Football Federation are desperate for him to continue until Euro 2008.

And the country's top-selling Bild newspaper launched a petition on Saturday to persuade him to remain at the helm.

Despite having no previous managerial experience Klinsmann has worked wonders with Germany in his two years at the helm and only Italy's 2-0 extra-time semi-final win denied them a spot in yesterday's final in Berlin.

"The team played with so much commitment and joy. I am so proud of this team and their achievement," he said. "I am so happy that this has been a World Cup that has had immeasurable value to Germany."

"At the beginning of the tournament we hoped for a positive development but we could not anticipate what would happen. It has been an avalanche of emotions for all concerned," he said.

Wins over Costa Rica, Poland, Ecuador, Argentina and now Portugal have seen the host nation captivated by World Cup fever but Klinsmann was still left disappointed at failing to reach their goal of becoming world champions.

"It was important to finish with a victory in front of our fans. We were deeply disappointed about the Italy loss but bounced back," Klinsmann said.

"We are happy with what we achieved and this tournament has been a success but we have not achieved our ultimate goal to be world champions," he added.

"It is like when you go to the Olympic Games -- you want gold not silver," he said.

In the end Germany got the equivalent of bronze but Klinsmann, a World Cup winner as a player with West Germany in 1990, said he was honored that he and his team had won respect from so many great soccer figureheads.

West Germany's 1974 World Cup winner Franz Beckenbauer has lauded the team throughout the finals and urged Klinsmann to carry on in a chat after the final whistle.

"Franz told me to keep up the good work and I said `we'll see about that,'" the 41-year-old said. "These were heartfelt words from Franz. To hear this from someone like Franz Beckenbauer is really amazing."
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