Euro 2008

London

Germany's progression to the Euro 2008 final might have been billed as a return to old-fashioned values of efficiency and professionalism. But behind that easy stereotype lies a management team that is prepared to explore every possible avenue in the pursuit of excellence.

That has included bringing in Patrick Broome, a specialist yoga instructor and guru to international pop stars Madonna and Sting, to help prepare the squad.

Devotees in the German camp include Arne Friedrich, Jens Lehmann, Simon Rolfes and Thomas Hitzlsperger.

Yes, you read that correctly. Lehmann - he of the flaky, not to say combustible, temperament - is a practioner of a discipline that involves contorting the body into complex postures in a bid to cultivate a steady mind.

Broome has been working with the German team for the last three years after he was introduced to former coach Jurgen Klinsmann by Oliver Bierhoff.

Klinsmann consequently asked Broome to work with his players and, after some initial resistance, he has now become accepted as part of the national team's medical staff. He provides group lessons as well as individual lessons.

"The purpose of yoga for footballers is simple," Broome told the German paper Handelsblatt earlier in June.

"Yoga helps to improve the mental and athletic preparation of the players of the national squad. Yoga increases the mobility of the hips and the chest and the flexibility and stability of the knees and ankles. Strong stomach muscles and lower back muscles help to prevent possible injuries."

Broome dismissed the notion that yoga makes sportsmen too soft to compete, arguing players are more likely to make errors without a strong inner belief.

As for Lehmann, when he's not exploring different yoga asanas, he is keen on riding his mountain bike, a pursuit also enjoyed by Michael Ballack, Kevin Kuranyi, Mario Gomez, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Oliver Neuville and Lukas Podolski.