Germany coach Joachim Loew has admitted his friendly relationship with USA boss Jurgen Klinsmann will be put on hold when their teams meet at the World Cup.
Germany play the USA in Recife on June 26 in their final group match having also drawn Ghana and Portugal in Group G.
The Recife clash pits Klinsmann, who coached Germany to third at the 2006 World Cup, against Loew, who succeeded him as German head coach having been his assistant at that year's tournament.
Having met Loew on a coaching course, Klinsmann brought the 53-year-old Loew into the Germany set up when he was appointed head coach in 2004.
Klinsmann made the last of his 108 international appearances in 1998 having been part of the Germany side which won the 1990 World Cup.
"So, we will be meeting old friends," said Loew after Friday's draw.
"It's already something special to have the USA in our group. Jurgen and I have had a very good and close relationship for a long time.
"We have always exchanged ideas on a regular basis, but that will certainly change before the World Cup match."
Neither Klinsmann nor Loew could resist a smile when the draw threw their teams against each other.
"That's one of those crazy stories that football writes," Klinsmann, who made 80 appearances as a player for Germany, told German broadcaster ARD.
Germany's team manager Oliver Bierhoff, who played alongside Klinsmann when the Germans won the Euro '96 title at Wembley, said he also expects previously cordial relations to cool now the Germans have become rivals.
"As of today, I expect we'll be a bit more closed," he said.
Bierhoff and Loew will head a delegation from the German Football Federation (DFB) who will spend the weekend looking at potential team hotels in Sao Paulo and Salvador before flying home ahead of the FIFA deadline on December 18.
Klinsmann's USA team beat Loew's weakened Germany 4-3 in a friendly in Washington DC last June, when most of his stars were involved in the Champions League final, but overall the Germans lead the series with six wins and three defeats.
Having taken charge as head coach of the Stars and Stripes in July 2011, Klinsmann says the USA face a tough challenge.
"That is a tough group, which couldn't have been harder," said the 49-year-old.
"The group is a real challenge, but we have built up our self-confidence over the last two and a half years and we have the most successful year in the 100 years of US football behind us."
The group will also see Ghana midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng potentially face half brother Jerome at another World Cup when the Black Stars play Germany.
Ghana face Germany in Fortaleza on June 21 meaning Schalke's attacking midfielder Kevin Prince could be up against Bayern Munich centre-back Jerome.
This is not the first time the brothers have met at a World Cup as they both played when Germany beat Ghana 1-0 at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa in the group stages -- the first time brothers had played on opposite teams at a World Cup.
"Brother, it's time again... that's how beautiful life is!" Kevin-Prince wrote on his Twitter account.
Boateng will also be up against Schalke team-mate Jermaine Jones when the USA play Ghana in Natal on June 16.
"I'm happy with that," Boateng told Sport Bild.
"You can see that dreams can come true. I am looking to another game against my brother at the World Cup. And also against my team-mate Jermaine Jones, he's simply great."
Source: AFP
