What is not known is which 11 Germans will execute that plan. Or rather which 10, since goalkeeper Andreas Koepke is the only one certain. Coach Berti Vogts has revealed nothing about his intended line-up and has said hardly more about his tactics.

The Germans play the only way they know how: Put the opponent under pressure from the start, keep it on for 90 minutes and use the rival's mistakes to create goals.

But Vogts has kept the media and his players guessing about the line-up that will take on the United States at Parc des Princes tomorrow.

``It is not important who plays, it's important that those who play, play well,'' Vogts said.

US coach Steve Sampson appears ready to start a defensive-oriented line-up, based on defender-mid-fielder Mike Burns, defender Thomas Dooley and goalkeeper Kasey Keller.

The USoffensive punch is largely dependent on Reyna, a mid-fielder who is the team playmaker. He scored four goals this season for VFL Wolfsburg of Germany's Bundesliga.

Sampson uses 3-6-1 formation in which the Americans start three defenders, six mid-fielders and a lone forward. It's perfectly suited to Reyna's passing skills.

Vogts considers the United States a physical, fit team, but fitness is also one of Vogts' obsessions and one of the German strengths. ``The fittest team will win the World Cup,'' Vogts said.

The Germans have been working hard on their fitness. With an average age of 29.7 years, they are one of the oldest teams.

Germany, reigning European champion which is seeking its fourth World Cup title, is one of the last major teams to go into action.

``The lads are on fire,'' said Thomas Haessler, the pint-sized mid-fielder who is one of Germany's most creative players. ``It's time to get going.'' Haessler may be on fire, but the biggest question mark hangs over his head.

If Vogts decidesto go with a more offensive setup, Haessler will get to play. If not, he'll probably sit on the bench. What speaks for Haessler is that he's usually the best feeder for Juergen Klinsmann and Oliver Bierhoff, the likely starting forwards.

Vogts, who has complained that his team concedes too many goals (nine in 10 qualifying games), may want to shore up his defense against the speedy Americans, who rely on counter-attacks.

``It would be foolish to underestimate any team,'' said assistant coach Rainer Bonhof, whose job was to scout the Americans during their tuneup games and who saw them beat Austria 3-0 in Vienna in April.

``It's a team that bases its game on counter-attacks and speed. They are very fit. The top man is Claudio Reyna. He is the mid-field director, he's the head of the team,'' Bonhof said.

``We won't have anyone shadowing him all the time, but when he has the ball he'll be put under considerable pressure,'' Bonhof said.