RECIFE, Brazil -- Jurgen Klinsmann has cut off contact with his "very close friend" Joachim Low in recent days, but he believes his former assistant has built a Germany side to challenge for the World Cup.
Klinsmann is preparing his United States team to face Germany here on Thursday knowing a draw against his homeland will guarantee both teams a place in the last 16 in Brazil.
MORE: U.S. wins | Player ratings | Man of the Match | Images
He maintains a close relationship with Low, who worked as his assistant with Germany for two years before taking over following the 2006 World Cup. But Klinsmann admits they have been giving each other the silent treatment in the build-up to the Group G clash.
“We both do the best job we can do and leave phone calls and text messages for a couple of days,” Klinsmann said in his pre-match press conference on Wednesday. “After the World Cup we will pick up the phones and talk about it, and our families will see each other."
The U.S. was just seconds away from booking a place in the World Cup's round of 16, but Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal made sure the Americans would need a win or draw - or some luck should they lose - against Germany on Thursday to advance out of Group G.
“Germany have a team with the potential to win the World Cup, we don’t claim that," Klinsmann said. "They have a strong possibility to go for the title.”
However, the U.S. has impressed in its first two World Cup matches, beating Ghana before drawing with Portugal last time out. Even if the Americans lose, they will still have a chance to advance depending on the result of the Portugal-Ghana match, which will be played at the same time.
Klinsmann has been encouraged by the number of shock results in the tournament so far and believes the U.S. can spring another surprise against his home country.
“We’ve seen this is a World Cup full of surprises. We want to be one of those surprises,” Klinsmann added. “We are very capable of beating Germany and we know that, without being over confident."