<P> In the semi-final on 4 July, Germany lost a close match with Italy 2--0 after goals in the final minutes of extra time from Fabio Grosso and Alessandro Del Piero . After the match, Klinsmann praised the performance of his young team . They beat Portugal 3--1 in the third place play - off, where he played Kahn instead of Jens Lehmann . The victory triggered a massive parade in Berlin the following day where Klinsmann and the team were honoured by the public . </P> <P> Afterward, Franz Beckenbauer, previously a strident critic of Klinsmann's, declared his desire to see Klinsmann continue as coach . There was also widespread public support for Klinsmann due to his team's spirit and attacking style of play . The team's strong performance is thought by some to have renewed national pride and restored Germany's reputation as a top footballing nation . Due to his success coaching the national team, Klinsmann was awarded the Bundesverdienstkreuz . </P> <P> Despite the highly acclaimed performance at the World Cup and the praise earned, Klinsmann declined to renew his contract, informing the German Football Association (DFB) of his decision on 11 July 2006 . The decision was officially announced by the DFB on 12 July 2006 . Klinsmann's assistant, Joachim Löw, was appointed as the new head coach at the same press conference . Klinsmann said, "My big wish is to go back to my family, to go back to leading a normal life with them...After two years of putting in a lot of energy, I feel I lack the power and the strength to continue in the same way ." </P> <P> In July 2008, Klinsmann took over as coach of Bayern Munich, succeeding Ottmar Hitzfeld . Klinsmann helped design a new player development and performance center for Bayern and then launched into molding the team for the Bundesliga and 2008--09 Champions League campaigns . Under his guidance, Bayern reached the quarter - final of the Champions League, losing to eventual champion Barcelona . Klinsmann was sacked on 27 April 2009 with five matches remaining . His final match was a 1--0 loss to Schalke 04 . Bayern were in third - place at the time of the sacking . Klinsmann finished with a record of 25 wins, nine draws, and 10 losses in all competitions . </P>

Who was the team captain for the us during the 2006 fifa world cup