IT'S THE USA WAY GERMAN COACH BRINGS NEW STYLE.

Byline: SCOTT FRENCH Staff Writer

BERLIN -- If it was a disappointing World Cup for the United States, not so American ideas and practices. Germany's ascent to unexpected heights, and the frenzy it has caused among the giddy populace, has been built on an American foundation, and Juergen Klinsmann no longer is being attacked for it.

Germany heads into today's quarterfinal against Argentina at Olympiastadion as a clear contender for the title, something so remote last spring that as little as 3 percent of the country gave their team a chance.

Now it seems all of Germany is behind its Nationalmannschaft, buoyed by Klinsmann's explosive attack and spirited performances in victories over Costa Rica, Poland, Ecuador and Sweden. Huge crowds, especially in Berlin, have packed the Fan Fests for showings of the games, flags fly from balconies and car windows, and a white Germany jersey and something ``schwarz, rot and gelb'' (black, red and gold) -- hats and scarves and wigs and leis -- seems mandatory attire.

It's a personal triumph for Klinsmann, 41, the former star striker who took charge of the national team following its 2004 European Championship disaster and began changing the landscape of German soccer. He's met extraordinary resistance from old-school leaders and coaches, but Germany's performance the past few weeks -- and how much fun the team is to watch -- have the old guard on the run.

The Deutscher Fussball-Bund, Germany's soccer federation, has indicated it wants to retain Klinsmann, who can expect other offers, one possibly from U.S. Soccer.

The chancellor, Angela Merkel, has praised him repeatedly, and his players have provided testimonials on how wonderful the team's preparation and spirit is.

It's largely product of Klinsmann's California connections. He lives in Huntington Beach with his Bay Area-born wife, Debbie, and their two children, has consulted for the Galaxy and Anschutz Entertainment Group -- insisting Home Depot Center's construction include a roof, one of the stadium's chief characteristics -- and has studied under former Galaxy coach Sigi Schmid and U.S. national team coach Bruce Arena.

``Living in the U.S. gives you a different perspective,'' Klinsmann, who has commuted between Southern California and DFB's Frankfurt headquarters, said before the World Cup.

The Germans always have been among soccer's elite, reaching 10 World Cup semifinals, playing in seven championship games and winning titles in 1954, '74 and, with Klinsmann, '90. Its talent pool seemed to dry up in the late 1990s -- Michael Ballack is the only major player the country has developed in nearly a decade -- and a surprise run the 2002 World Cup final only masked problems in the program.

After a dreadful first-round exit under Klinsmann's former strike partner Rudi Voeller two years ago at the European Championship, the DFB looked to California after its top choices said no. Klinsmann arrived and began shaking up the establishment.

He installed a team psychologist -- unheard of in German soccer --and brought over Mark Verstegen, president and founder of Home Depot Center-based Athletes' Performance, as fitness coach. He installed American training ideals, especially related to fitness, and changed the team's playing style, from slow and cautious to fearless and aggressive. And he welcomed young, mostly untested players into the team, broadening the talent pool with forward Lukas Podolski, midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, winger David Odonkor, defenders Philipp Lahm, Pet Mertesacker and Robert Huth, among others.

``We brought in a new generation of players, so it's a completely different German team now, with a lot of talent,'' Klinsmann said during the pre-Cup training camp in Switzerland. ``Secondly, we introduced a philosophy that was defined by this team.

``We identified an attacking style.''

It took time to ferment. Some of the changes, especially involving tactics and training practices -- and Klinsmann's insistence that he remain in California -- led to steep criticism.

``He stepped on a lot of toes,'' said World Cup organizing committee president (and former Germany coach) Franz Beckenbauer, German soccer's top figure and, at times, one of Klinsmann's chief critics.

Things blossomed during the Cup, with the Germans scoring early and often in an exciting opener against Costa Rica, beating rival Poland near the end, then dominating Ecuador and Sweden. The defense has been surprisingly solid -- although Argentina will surely test it -- and the offense phenomenal, with Ballack pulling the strings behind Polish-born forwards Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski, who have built a deep partnership, combining for seven of the 10 goals Germany has scored in four games.

``Germany is a footballing nation,'' said Klinsmann, who scored 11 World Cup goals and captained Germany to the 1996 European title. ``We have won the World Cup three times and the European Championship three times.''

It's all had a profound impact on the public, with displays of patriotism that have been avoided since World War II.

There's a palpable buzz in the air, a celebratory mood that has enveloped all of Germany. The team has noticed.

``(The fans) have been just unbelievable,'' midfielder Christoph Metzelder told Reuters. ``We've been able to absorb all the euphoria and use it to our advantage. It's made us better in every match.''

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CAPTION(S):

2 boxes

Box:

(1) GERMANY vs. ARGENTINA

(2) ITALY vs. UKRAINE

- Scott French