Berlin, July 18:

Juergen Klinsmann won’t be in attendance when he’s awarded Germany’s Federal Order of Merit next month. Klinsmann, 41, quit as Germany coach last week after guiding the national team to a surprising third-place finish at the World Cup. “I feel honoured,” Klinsmann was quoted as saying in Tuesday’s edition of Bild. “But I won’t receive it personally. I still need some space.” Klinsmann added that August 14 “is two days before the first national team match after the World Cup — others should be the focus there.” Klinsmann’s assistant for the past two years, Joachim Loew, has replaced him. Loew has set a target of winning the 2008 European Championship, co-hosted by Switzerland and Austria.