Since he has taken over the helm of the German national team in the summer of 2004, Jürgen Klinsmann has not hesitated to use the element of surprise to shaken the crusty foundations of German soccer. He even seems to thrive off the unexpected, as long as he is the first one to know it's coming.

His first act on his first day in office: He took the team captaincy away from goalkeeping hero Olli Kahn and gave it to midfield director Michael Ballack. The list of offenses committed against current players, former players, former coaches and the German Soccer Association (DFB) is longer that of his previous five predecessors combined.

Jürgen Klinsmann enjoys the game of being a soccer coach. This week, he added to his list of bombshell announcements when he revealed his 23-player squad for the World Cup. On it are of course Michael Ballack and Jens Lehmann.

What shocked the journalists at the Berlin press conference on Monday, and 83 million Germans as well, was the inclusion of David Odonkor to the team. Not one person had the 22-year old winger from Borussia Dortmund on his list of possible candidates. Even Klinsmann seemed uncertain when asked why he was included -- because Odonkor's "cheekiness" could help.

Good cheer quickly spoiled

Center forward Kevin Kuranyi, who has 35 caps, was left off the squad, while Mike Hanke, who has to sit out a two-game suspension at the start of the World Cup, was given the nod. Some may question the choices but it is a "luxury" that Klinsmann can afford, considering Odonkor and Hanke will play reserve roles behind Miroslav Klose, Lukas Podolski and Gerald Asamoah in the German attack.

The true question mark in the German team is the defense. It has been a shaky back line at best with questions of inexperience and out of form players hovering over the squad. One defender who has performed solidly and was set to start at the World Cup was Philipp Lahm from Bayern Munich.

Until the national squad's goodwill match against amateur side Luckenwalde on Tuesday. In an unlucky fall that just as easily could have happened during practice, Lahm tore tendons in his elbow, requiring surgery. The smile on Jürgen Klinsmann's face that had dominated as the national team filled up on self-confidence against the part-time kickers, turned to a frown.

Lahm is expected to recover in time for the World Cup but will miss some two weeks of preparations with his teammates.

A goalkeeper's dream turned to tragedy

While the team then jetted off to Sardinia for some rest and relaxation after the 7-0 victory over Luckenwalde, one man was left behind -- Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann. He had the opportunity to win Europe's most-coveted title in club soccer, the Champions League.

His 10-game streak of keeping the net clean of opposing goals was a new tournament record, and it was greatly responsible for the London side reaching the final against Barcelona. Another perfect performance on his part, and he would be riding high going into the World Cup.

Instead, he got sent off after just 18 minutes for his foul on Barca's Samuel Eto'o in a last-ditch attempt to stop the charging striker from scoring. In fact, the ball landed in the net one second later, but referee Terje Hauge had already blown the whistle. There was only one thing to do -- show Lehmann the red card. Arsenal went on to lose 2-1.

"I'll take it (this game) to my grave," Lehmann said afterwards.

The man, whose extraordinary play over the past season impressed Klinsmann enough to strip Olli Kahn of the number 1 jersey, looked utterly stunned as he left the pitch at Stade de France.

"Hopefully this shock night won't burden him at the World Cup," Germany's largest tabloid Bild wrote.

The shock may be even greater for Klinsmann. A goalie's mental fitness is probably more important, and certainly fragile, than his physical fitness, and Hauge's hasty whistle -- he admitted this himself -- could set the German keeper back.

"Jens has so much experience, that he doesn't need to be built back up," the coach said.

Which is probably true. For now, coach Klinsmann would just like to forget this week ever happened.