Klinsmann future in balance

BERLIN: Juergen Klinsmann will only consider staying on as Germany coach beyond the World Cup if the hosts have a successful tournament. “The yardstick is success,” Klinsmann said. “It all depends on whether we reap the rewards or not. I can well imagine hanging on for two or even four years after the World Cup. The philosophy we have here is forward thinking. It’s enabled us to play fast-paced, aggressive football but we’re on a learning curve and we’ll see where we are at the World Cup.”

FIFA to probe ticket scandal

MUNICH: FIFA is looking into reports that the Paraguayan soccer association sold some of its allotted World Cup tickets to resellers. “That’s something we’re following up. We don’t have any details at this stage,” FIFA spokesman Andreas Herren said Monday. The local organizing committee has refused to comment, but Herren said it was also investigating. “Everyone is looking into it – our ticket specialists are investigating,” Herren said.

Shevchenko ready to start

KIEV: Strikers Andriy Shevchenko and Serhiy Rebrov should be fit to start in Ukraine’s final tune-up friendly match this week against Luxembourg, coach Oleg Blokhin said in an interview published on Monday.