German coach Klinsmann on Tuesday targeted the forthcoming Confederations Cup tournament this summer as a dress rehearsal for the coveted World Cup win the following year.

The tournament, which brings together the champions of the world's six continental confederations plus Argentina as Copa America runners-up and hosts Germany, is seen as the ideal starter for the Germans with the main course to come the following summer.

"This is a very important stage for us, like a time trial on the Tour de France," Klinsmann said in an extensive interview with the German press agency dpa. "It's important not just because of the games but the fact that this will be the first time that we have spent a long period of time together. On top of that, it's in our home country, just like the World Cup."

Klinsmann and his coaching staff will use the Confederations Cup to run a critical eye over their charges with a view to assembling a tournament-savvy group ready to make a play for the big prize in 2006. "We will see how the team reacts to certain events, this is something different from a one-off international."

Young stars will get their chance to shine

The Germany coach also pledged to do all what was necessary to win the Confederations Cup this June, even at the temporary expense of his youth policy. Klinsmann said that an experienced team would battle for the cup but young hopefuls would still get their chance to shine. "There will be possibilities to play the younger ones," he said, "to get a feeling whether they are ready for the World Cup."

One man who is sure to feature is Klinsmann's captain, Michael Ballack. The Germany coach took the opportunity to pledge his support for Ballack, saying that he expects the midfielder to prove critics wrong at the 2006 World Cup and show he can be placed on a pedestal with the other great playmakers in world football.

Klinsmann backs Ballack to silence critics

Bayern Munich star Ballack, 28, has come in for criticism in the press and Brazil's three-time World Cup winner Pele recently claimed he had not made any progress over the past few seasons. "The criticism drives Michael on and he will silence the doubters," Klinsmann said.

"The 2006 World Cup on home soil will offer him the perfect stage to join recent greats such as Zinedine Zidane and Pavel Nedved." Ballack has scored 22 goals in 50 internationals for Germany marking him out as one of the most dangerous attacking midfielders in Europe.

"Michael is a world class player and all of us in the German national team know this," added Klinsmann. "He is lethal in front of goal and capable of changing the game in an instant."

Vogts job row to go to a vote at DFB

Klinsmann refused to directly address the thorny subject of his proposed plan to give former national coach Berti Vogts which has turned into another row with the German Football Federation (DFB). The plan would see Vogts dislodge Michael Skibbe from the post of developing the country's talent as technical director.

The DFB has yet to make a formal decision on Klinsmann's latest proposed reform although there is a timetable in place for a possible vote. "It is important that those involved stick to that timetable," Klinsmann said.

It is unlikely the DFB will let Klinsmann get his way on this matter as initial reports suggest that Vogts can only count on three votes on the federation's 14-seat presidium, composed of Germany's most powerful soccer officials.

Klinsi favors cooperation to solve problems

Resolving other areas of conflict between himself and the DFB, Klinsmann said, such as the number of games his players are expected to play ahead of the World Cup, are "in the national interest." Only through cooperation with the German soccer hierarchy can such problems be solved, the coach added, softening his stance marginally.

Klinsmann believes that Germany will be in good shape on and off the field by the time the World Cup comes around next summer. The referee scandal centered on Robert Hoyzer (photo) and allegations of ticket fraud will not have any long term effect.

"I think that there will be no lasting damage," Klinsmann concluded but warned: "But everyone knows that the impossible is also possible in football. For me, I would be more concerned if such a thing took place a few weeks before the world championships."