BAD BERTRICH, Germany -- When it came to soccer, Philipp Degen was always a few steps ahead of his identical twin David.

But now the 23-year-old brothers are reunited for the World Cup.

They say it's a bonus for the team because they can anticipate each other's moves.

"I know what he wants, he knows what I want, and that's an advantage," said Philipp Degen, a defender.

David, a midfielder, said he never felt jealous of his brother's earlier success.

"I was always happy for him with all my heart, and supported him. Now that we are together at the World Cup, it's a dream come true," he admitted.

Philipp was called to the national squad last year, while his brother was tapped just last month. In 2005, Philipp moved from FC Basel to Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund, while David remained with Basel.

David said that in their Basel days, there was an easy flow between them.

"But we could also overdo it in keeping the ball between us, which we don't want to do (here). There are 11 in a team, and we have to play with all 11," he said.

The Degens are the first twins on a national team since Frank and Ronald De Boer started for The Netherlands in the 1990s.

Many players are eager to get started and prove themselves against the French. They meet in a Group G match on Tuesday in Stuttgart.

"With every day, we feel more butterflies in the stomach," said David Degen. "The tension is rising."