NICE, June 8: Three-time champion Germany arrived yesterday in France brimming with confidence that it may become only the second nation after Brazil to win four World Cup titles. "We are on a very, very good direction," captain Juergen Klinsmann before the team left Frankfurt.Arriving in the south of France, the team was whisked off the plane straight onto a bus to take it to the German training headquarters at Mas D'Artigny, just outside St-Paul-de-Vence in the hills above the Mediterranean resort of Nice in France.Dozens of German fans, including many couples with children, waited in vain in catch a glimpse of their soccer heroes.Aboard the special Lufthansa flight, team members were presented with silver key rings bearing the date July 13 - one day after the Paris final the date they will return home if they win the title. The players were also served desert made in the shape of soccer balls and shoes.The Germans arrived on the heels of an impressive 7-0 thrashing of lowly Luxembourg onSaturday in Mannheim. One week ago, Germany posted a convincing 3-1 victory over World Cup qualifier Colombia.German soccer writers were quick to point out that two years ago Germany posted a similarly lopsided victory (9-1) over Liechtenstein, also in Mannheim, just before leaving for England to capture the European Championship title.Germany is one of the perennial World Cup favourites and Vogts and his players are not showing any false modesty, expecting to reach at least the semifinals.The Germans open against the United States on June 15 in Paris followed by games against Yugoslavia on June 21 and against Iran on June 24.
