Klinsmann was trying to keep his players' attention on Ecuador.

"We are already very involved with Ecuador," Klinsmann said. "They deserve a lot of respect. They will be very tough to play. They've shown why they finished third in South America qualifying, behind Brazil and Argentina, and that it wasn't only due to altitude," he said referring to Quito's elevation of 2,200 meters (7,200 feet).

Both teams are likely to rest some players, although the Germans insist that captain Michael Ballack will play. Ballack is carrying a yellow card and risks missing the second-round match if he is not careful in Tuesday's game.

"He'll play for sure," assistant coach Joachim Loew said. "But we'll talk to him. We will tell him not to make unnecessary fouls but he needs to find his rhythm."

Ballack knows all about crucial suspensions. He missed the 2002 World Cup final defeat to Brazil after picking up a second yellow card in the semifinal.

Ballack missed his team's opening victory over Costa Rica because of a calf injury. He returned for the win against Poland but also picked up a yellow card.

"It's difficult to hold yourself back at the World Cup. In some games sometimes you get the feeling you can do it but not here," Ballack said Sunday. "You want to win, you want to play well and tackling is part of the game. It's important for us to have a good game and bolster our confidence."

Ecuador said that while Ballack's attacks were cause for concern, there were no plans to man mark him.

Ecuador coach Luis Fernando Suarez described Germany's offense as its strength, but that its defense sometimes could be easily breached.

"I don't want to draw. I want to win and our aim will be to win," Suarez said, who may have to do without injured strikers Carlos Tenorio and Agustin Delgado.

Apart from Ballack, Germany has two other players with yellow cards: defender Christoph Metzelder and attacking midfielder David Odonkor, a reserve.

Metzelder twisted his right in Saturday's practice but has passed a fitness test and should be available _ unless Klinsmann decides to rest him.

"We know about yellow cards and we might do something about them, but I can't go into details," Klinsmann said. "Some players need to play to stay in their rhythm, for others it doesn't matter, but this may be a chance to give some reserves a chance to play."

Loew has praised Ecuador for its tactical discipline.

"Together with Sweden, they play the most perfect 4-4-2 system. It's the Colombian school. They've left a very strong impression and they have not allowed a goal. But we have no reason to be nervous," Loew said.