Berlin, Jun 22: Sports psychology has come a long way from the advice once offered by a coach when told his struggling star striker had been knocked unconscious and had forgotten his name.

"Tell him he's Pele," said the coach.

"And get him back on the pitch." Some World Cup hopefuls are a little more sophisticated.

Spain, who have impressed many with their early form which has yielded two wins in two games, have turned to one of America's top sports psychologists to transform them from underachievers to world beaters.

They haven't got beyond the last eight since 1954."Were trying not to dwell on history," said Boston University Professor Leonard Zaichkowsky who has worked with Olympic athletes as well as the Boston Celtics basketball team and the Calgary Flames ice hockey squad.

"We are trying to emphasise that this is a different team, with a different coach, a different everything.

"We want to get them thinking along the lines of great performances," said Zaichkowsky.

"They may have things that are bothering them in their own life that are affecting their play on the field.

Psychology has a positive dimension, helping normal people achieve their highest potential." Zaichkowsky said he has told Luis Aragones's team that they need to feel united in their approach.

"You guys are all playing at a high level, and we want to take you to a championship level....We'll be working on genuinely caring about each other.

That's the only way they're going to win a world championship." Like Aragones, Jurgen Klinsmann's Germany team is flying, winning three matches and reaching the second round with ease.

Germany, too, are using a sports psychologist for the first time.

After a disastrous Euro 2004 campaign, when Germany failed to win a match under Rudi Voller, Klinsmann recruited Dr Hans-Dieter Hermann who has also worked with the German ski team.

"We are delighted that he is there for the mental side of things," explained Klinsmann.

"He has a lot of experience having worked with top sportsmen.

He can help them deal with stress and maximise their performance." World Cup debutants Angola called in Laurindo Vieira.

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