Beware underdog prepared to attack

GERMAN legend Jurgen Klinsmann says an underdog could go far in what he is predicting will be a “World Cup of surprises” in Qatar.

The change from the usual June-July slot means this World Cup falls in the middle of the club season in Europe, where most leading players are based.

This is also only its second time in Asia.

“I think this could be a World Cup of surprises because if some of the kind of underdogs – maybe if it’s an African nation, if it’s an Asian team – if they are courageous I think you can go actually far in this tournament,” Klinsmann (pictured) said in Doha.

“It is not a tournament to sit back and defend.

“I think it’s a tournament that really invites you to go, be courageous and go forward.

“I don’t think you go very far if you just have a defensive approach in this tournament.”

The former striker played in the West Germany team that won the cup in 1990 and later coached Germany to third place as host nation in 2006.

Having also taken charge of the US in Brazil in 2014, he is at the World Cup as a member of FIFA’s technical study group analysing matches. The group is overseen by former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

The World Cup is starting only a week after matches were played in Europe’s leading leagues, leaving little time for national teams to prepare.

This has led to increased anxiety about injuries, but Klinsmann said he did not necessarily see the lack of preparation time as a problem.

“I believe we are going to see a tournament of very, very high quality because the players didn’t need another preparation like they usually do before a World Cup,” he said.