Nearly four years ago, a traditional soccer power that had fallen on hard times by squandering their enormous resources and great potential turned — almost in desperation — to an untested young coach with a lot of demands and no track record. And that was only after their three first choices had turned down the job.

With hindsight, the German FA (DFB) should be given credit for their courage to turn over the “Nationalelf” to Juergen Klinsmann – even if they had just about run out of candidates who still had a pulse. 

At the time, it looked like madness to some. But two years later, after Klinsmann had led Germany to third place in the World Cup, there were 82 million Germans begging him to stay longer.

Klinsmann, of course, refused to stay and returned home to California at the end of his two-year contract. He didn’t need the money and wanted a break after the two-year mission: He came, he saw, he fixed it and went home.

It seems to me England are having similar problems and could do with a Klinsmann to help them out. They produce so many talented players, have the world’s best league, an unrivalled tradition and a huge appetite for winning, yet they so often underperform.

Klinsmann triumphed in part because he wasn’t afraid to bring in young and untried players. He was also prepared to sack people who got in his way — like goalkeeping coach Sepp Maier and ageing defender Christian Woerns.

Klinsmann also stood up to the powerful media in Germany, refused to play according to their rules, and after some serious sniping ultimately had even the most vicious pressbox critics eating out of his hand.

If nothing else, having a German coach might at least help England overcome their trauma with penalties.

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PHOTO: Klinsmann celebrates with the fans at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, July 9, 2006. REUTERS/Marcus Brandt/Pool