Klinsmann aims to end Germany winless streak in France

Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann says his team aims to end a humiliating five-year winless streak against other traditional major sides when they travel to Paris for a friendly against France on Saturday.

Despite their dreary record against top teams, Klinsmann says he believes the form of his players has improved following a bleak October when they lost 2-1 to Turkey in Istanbul and then struggled to beat China 1-0 in Hamburg.

"We naturally want to end that streak," Klinsmann said, referring to the five years and 15 matches without a win against a top team.

"But it doesn't help to think about it all the time. We want to win every match."

Germany, three-times World Cup winners and runners-up in 2002, automatically qualified for next year's tournament as hosts.

They last won against a traditional world power when they beat England 1-0 at Wembley in October 2000.

Despite the poor run, Germany's record under Klinsmann marks a considerable improvement over his predecessor Rudi Voeller, whose teams proved especially vulnerable in their matches against the world's best.

Between October 2000 and his resignation in July 2004, Voeller's team lost to France twice, as well as to England, Argentina, Brazil, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy and the Czech Republic.

Under Klinsmann, the team has had four draws, against Brazil, Netherlands and twice against Argentina, and have lost once, a 3-2 defeat by Brazil in the Confederations Cup semi-finals.

"We're optimistic going into the match," Klinsmann said.

"The players' performance has clearly improved in the last two or three weeks. They've found their rhythm after about the first third of the season. That'll help us.

"The match against France is a true highlight, especially in the soccer temple Stade de France," said Klinsmann. "We're eager to have a strong finish to the year."

Despite his record of 12 wins, five draws and four losses, Klinsmann has come under increasing pressure in recent weeks from critics who question his methods and decision to live in California and commute to Germany.

Germany have no further matches until March - in Italy (March 1) and against the United States in Germany (March 22).

Klinsmann said the players were aware of the violence flaring in France over the last 12 days.

"We all know that there are other problems in France right now," he said. "We'll make sure our players are briefed and get the information they need about the situation, just as we have done in the past."