It seems that the Germans fear that their quite young team would not have the time to create the connections between key players a great team needs. So, as a conclusion, Germany officials consider that reaching next year’s semifinals would be a great result. Not to be a smart-ass, but almost all the teams there would consider this a succesful World Cup. 

A top German soccer official said Saturday that next year’s World Cup might come too early for Germany’s youthful team.

Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder, co-president of the German soccer federation, described coach Juergen Klinsmann’s makeover of the three-time World Cup champions as “radical.”

The 41-year-old Klinsmann has promoted numerous players in their early 20s. He’s also replaced coaches with fellow members from Germany’s last two major titles - the 1990 World Cup and 1996 European Championship.

“Young players have to be allowed to make mistakes to develop - naturally that’s dangerous at a World Cup,” Mayer-Vorfelder said. “For that reason, it would surely be better if the World Cup were held two years later.”

Mayer-Vorfelder also called for Klinsmann to stay on in the job beyond June’s World Cup, saying transformation couldn’t be completed without him.

“It would be better if he stayed until 2008,” he said. “We can’t do without him yet.”

Klinsmann has signalled his willingness to extend his contract, but has made it contingent on a good performance at the World Cup. Mayer-Vorfelder said reaching the semifinals would be a successful World Cup for the Germans.

Taken from HERE.