BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany are preparing for Euro 2008 with basketball workouts at a pre-tournament training camp in Spain, their coach Joachim Loew said on Wednesday.
"I've always been impressed by the defensive skills of basketball players," Loew told a news conference from Majorca that was broadcast live on German television.
"We've brought along a former Germany basketball international, Denis Wucherer, as our basketball trainer to improve our defensive skills.
"We're not trying to re-invent football, but I think a bit of basketball practice is a great enrichment for us."
Wucherer led Germany players in two 75-minute workouts on the basketball court on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Loew said three players had done especially well on the court, Tim Borowski, Per Mertesacker and Piotr Trochowski.
"I think there is too much fouling going on in German soccer," said Loew. "Our goal is to be able to force the opponent to the side without constantly bumping into them."
Germany are in Group B for the June 7-29 tournament with co-hosts Austria, Croatia and Poland. Germany's first match is on June 8 against Poland in Klagenfurt, Austria.
(Writing by Erik Kirschbaum, editing by Trevor Huggins)