Klinsmann needs strong result vs US

It may look like just another pre-World Cup friendly, but for embattled Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann today's meeting with a depleted US team comes pretty close to a must-win match.

Under fire for a humbling 4-1 defeat to Italy three weeks ago, Klinsmann's side have something to prove against a team that gave Germany fits in their last encounter - a hard-fought 1-0 German victory in the quarter-finals of the 2002 World Cup.

The stakes are not as high this time around but Klinsmann still faces enormous pressure to deliver victory in Dortmund's Westfalen stadium, one of the 12 venues for this year's World Cup in Germany.

Both Germany and Bruce Arena's US squad will be without key players.

Werder Bremen midfielder Torsten Frings has been ruled out with a calf injury and Klinsmann learned at the weekend that Bayern Munich winger Sebastian Deisler will miss the World Cup after suffering a knee injury. Wily striker Oliver Neuville has been called up to help fill the holes.

For Arena's side, speedy winger Landon Donovan is out with a right calf strain, while European-based players DaMarcus Beasley, Claudio Reyna and Brian McBride - all stalwarts of the 2002 team - have club commitments.

With less than three months to go until the World Cup kicks off in Munich on June 9, German soccer is in turmoil.

Prosecutors are investigating allegations of match-rigging in the German second division.

Top club Bayern Munich were bounced rudely from the Champions League this month and their best player, Germany midfielder Michael Ballack, is expected to move abroad at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, the California-based Klinsmann's running of the national team has come under renewed scrutiny, with soccer icon Franz Beckenbauer and even some politicians questioning his commitment and tactics.

Klinsmann may face more hostility in Dortmund where fans are unhappy with his decision to exclude home-team player Christian Woerns from his World Cup side.