Meanwhile, the California-based Klinsmann's running of the national team has come under renewed scrutiny, with soccer icon Franz Beckenbauer and even some politicians questioning his commitment and tactics.

A coaching novice when he took over the national team in August 2004, Klinsmann may face more hostility in Dortmund where fans are unhappy with his decision to exclude home-team player Christian Woerns from his World Cup side.

But the U.S. match will also give Klinsmann, who won the World Cup with West Germany in 1990, a chance to make amends for the Italy debacle and narrow down his first-team choices -- notably for the hotly disputed goalkeeper spot.

Oliver Kahn, the combative Bayern keeper, will be on the pitch on Wednesday after watching his rival Jens Lehmann of Arsenal allow four goals to a classy Italy team in Florence.

Klinsmann may also be keen to give the 21-year-old Schweinsteiger, who did not play in Bayern's Sunday Bundesliga victory against Schalke 04, a chance to put the storm of last week's betting allegations behind him.

Probable teams:

Germany: Oliver Kahn; Patrick Owomoyela, Per Mertesacker, Christoph Metzelder, Philipp Lahm; Bernd Schneider, Sebastian Kehl, Michael Ballack, Tim Borowski; Gerald Asamoah, Miroslav Klose

U.S.: Kasey Keller; Steve Cherundolo, Eddie Pope, Cory Gibbs, Heath Pearce; Ben Olsen, Pablo Mastroeni, Chris Klein, Bobby Convey; Taylor Twellman, Eddie Johnson

Referee: Peter Frojdfeldt (Sweden)