Speed is the last resort: Klinsmann

Cagliari (Italy): It was on June 30, 1998, in St Etienne that Michael Owen announced himself to the world with a spellbinding goal.

In a flash, the 18-year-old England forward outpaced two Argentine defenders and smashed a high angle shot past goalkeeper Carlos Roa to put his side into the lead.

The poise with which Owen put away the chance was impressive, but it was his blistering pace that terrified the Argentina defenders and confirmed the 18-year-old as the revelation of the tournament, even if England went on to lose the match on penalties.

It goes without saying that speed has always been a valuable asset to a forward. But now that even the more modest teams have become expert at packing the midfield, with stifling 4-5-1 formations, the ability to burst through on to a long ball forward has become invaluable.

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson and Germany's Juergen Klinsmann know that well. Both men added untried midfielders to their World Cup squads almost solely on the basis of their speed.

Theo Walcott was included in the England squad even before making his Premier League debut with Arsenal.

Odonkor is five years older than Walcott and made his Borussia Dortmund debut back in 2002. A regular in the under-21 side, he had not even been mentioned as a possible pick for Klinsmann's World Cup squad.

He managed just one goal in the Bundesliga this season, which is nigh on embarrassing for a player listed as a striker rather than a midfield.

Odonkor is extraordinarily quick, as Germany fans discovered when he came on for the second half of this week's exhibition match against amateur club Luckenwalde in Mannheim.

His skill on the ball was less impressive, although after a few attempts he did manage to set up a series of goalscoring chances for his forwards.

"Hands down David is the fastest in the squad," Mark Verstegen, Germany's American fitness coach, said from the World Cup hosts' training camp in Sardinia.

"I've been told he can run the 100 metres in 10.7 seconds, although I haven't seen him yet myself. He's a very special young man and he's very quick."

Verstegen warns, though, that speed alone does not a world champion. "I've worked with players as fast as him." he said.

"In America they may not be the best footballers but they have good physical traits. "But that's not enough. That's not what wins championships. Speed is only part of the weaponry."

No one was more surprised by Odonkor's promotion to the national team than the player himself. "I was shocked," said Odonkor, who has a tattoo on his arm in Latin professing his belief in God and the family.

"My goal here is really just to train well." Klinsmann, who desperately needs something special from his midfield after injury ruled out Sebastian Deisler, doesn't agree.

"He should expect to play, everyone here can expect to play," the coach said. "But he'll be all right. The other young players will look after him."