USA boss Klinsmann relishing Germany clash

COSTA DO SAUIPE - Agence France-Presse

Cameroon head coach Volker Finke, United States head coach Jürgen Klinsmann and Germany head coach Joachim Löw chat after the draw ceremony for the 2014 soccer World Cup in Brazil, Dec. 6. AP photo

USA coach Jürgen Klinsmann has said he is relishing going up against his former assistant Joachim Löw when the Stars and Stripes play Germany at the 2014 World Cup.

"That's one of those crazy stories that football writes," Klinsmann, who made 80 appearances for Germany, told German broadcaster ARD.

Germany play the USA in Recife on June 26 in their final Group G game having also drawn Ghana and Portugal.

The Recife clash pits Klinsmann, who coached Germany to third at the 2006 World Cup, against Löw, who succeeded him as German head coach in 2006 having been his assistant at that year's World Cup.

"So, we will be meeting old friends," said Löw. "It's already something special to have the USA in our group. Jürgen and I have had a very good and close relationship for a long time.We have always exchanged ideas on a regular basis, but that will certainly change before the World Cup match."

Klinsmann's USA team beat Löw's weakened Germany 4-3 in a friendly in Washington DC last June, when most of his stars were involved in the Champions League final, but overall the Germans lead the series with six wins and three defeats.

"That is a tough group, which couldn't have been harder," added Klinsmann, who started coaching the USA in July 2011. "The group is a real challenge, but we have built up our self-confidence over the last two and a half years and we have the most successful year in the 100 years of U.S. football behind us."