LOUIS VAN GAAL RIPS INTO MANCHESTER UNITED PLAYERS FOR BELOW PAR EFFORTS AT TRAINING IN LA BUT ALSO DISHES OUT PRAISE WITH HIGH-FIVES

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal revealed flashes of his famous temper during the club’s public training session at the Pasadena Rose Bowl on Tuesday night.

Van Gaal has only been working with United’s players for less than a week since arriving from World Cup duty with Holland and has promised to judge them all with an open mind.

But onlookers at United’s work out in California saw the 62-year-old admonish and praise his players in equal measure during a fascinating session ahead of Wednesday night's tour match with LA Galaxy at the stadium that hosted the 1994 World Cup Final.

Two sides: Louis van Gaal's famous temper was on show in Los Angeles as Manchester United prepared for their friendly against LA Galaxy

Leading the way: A candidate for Van Gaal's captain's arm band, Wayne Rooney leads the line-up of United stars in warm-up drills

As members of the public and the media looked on, Van Gaal set his players the task of shooting only with their left foot during practice drills at the Rose Bowl and was quick to rip in to players such as new signing Luke Shaw and midfielder Darren Fletcher when they failed to hit the target.

Observers were surprised at how annoyed Van Gaal seemed when players were not successful and he certainly seemed happy to put players in their place in front of hundreds of fans who had queued up to watch the United squad in action.

What particularly annoyed Van Gaal was players missing the target completely or shooting too close to the goalkeeper.

Equally, though, Van Gaal was soon exchanging high fives with players who did score with their ‘wrong’ foot and seemed particularly enthusiastic when centre halves Phil Jones and Jonny Evans managed to hit the target.

Lighter side: Van Gaal, here with Ryan Giggs, has a notoriously fiery temper but also shows his sense of humour and willingness to dish out praise when it's deserved

'You are supposed to be a defender,' Van Gaal said to Jones as they smacked palms in a manner reminiscent of the celebration he shared with United striker Robin van Persie after he scored for Holland in their opening World Cup destruction of Spain in Salvador last month.

Speaking before the session, Van Gaal had indicated that each player would be given a chance to prove themselves to him.

'At this moment, I cannot say anything about the squad and additions,' he said.

'I want to learn about my players and get to know them. When I am the coach and when I give the orders to my players to play a certain way, I want to see how they perform.

'That is why I cannot answer this question just now. I want to give all players the chance to show themselves under my guidance.'

Old mates: Rooney (right) speaks with United legend David Beckham, who also made an indelible mark on football in the United States with his stint at the Galaxy

GERMANY CELEBRATE AFTER WORLD CUP 2014 WIN IN BRAZIL BY DELIGHTING CROWDS IN BERLIN

Germany were intent on enjoying themselves as they arrived back in Berlin to celebrate winning the World Cup - even pre-rehearsing a hilarious routine to delight supporters. 

Around half-a-million fans flocked to Brandenburg Gate in the country's capital on Tuesday morning to greet their heroes, and were in for a surprise. 

Thomas Muller, Mats Hummels, Erik Durm and Christoph Kramer looked to be striding out on to the podium alone, but captain Philipp Lahm was behind them, unseen. 

That went well! Philipp Lahm and Thomas Muller pulled off a stunt on stage in Germany on Tuesday

Having a ball: Christoph Kramer pretends to play the guitar as they entertain the huge crowd

Boy band material? (from left) Hummels, Lahm, Durm, Kramer and Muller all get in on the guitar act

Pleased: Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lukas Podolski pose with the World Cup trophy in Berlin

Where's Lahm gone? The Germany captain was hidden behind his four team-mates as they pulled off the stunt

And there it is! Lahm then emerges from the back to show off the trophy they won in Brazil by beating Argentina over the weekend

Lahm crouched and revealed the shimmering World Cup as the other four fell to the ground in a move to draw huge cheers. 

The Germany captain had earlier led his champions from the aircraft shortly after 10am local time, followed by Bastian Schweinsteiger who was wearing the country's flag, and the team were greeted by excited fans trying to get a glimpse of the trophy as they made their way through the airport.

During their 11-hour flight it was reported in Bild that the Germany players managed to get some rest. After partying on Monday to celebrate their fourth World Cup triumph, there was a reported hour delay after a baggage carrier had touched the plane.

Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil was delighted to touch down on home turf, and said on his Twitter account: 'back in the country of the world champions.'

Thousands of supporters lined the Fan Mile in the centre of Berlin as the team and manager Joachim Low, who were all dressed in identical winners T-shirts, took to an open-top truck to parade the World Cup trophy and show off their medals on their homecoming.

On the side of the black Mercedes truck was painted the years of Germany's triumphs at the biggest tournament in world football, '1954, 1974, 1990, 2014!'estyling in the rain with France team-mates

Watch vide

Have a bit of that: Lahm (left) dances as Thomas Muller lifts the World Cup aloft to adoring thousands

Delight: Podolski (l-r), Per Mertesacker, Mesut Ozil, Ron-Robert Zieler, Jerome Boateng and Sami Khedira

The president of the German Football Association (DFB) Wolfgang Niersbach was excited about the reception for the squad and he said in an interview with ARD: 'This is a dream. Seeing this enthusiasm. I do not know what in our country more can trigger this sense of belonging as this World Cup.

'Our players are looking forward incredibly to enjoy this moment.'

Germany coach Low held the trophy aloft to the sound of much cheering and applause as the truck slowly made its way through the thick crowds with hundreds of fans following behind as they hailed their heroes.

Final destination: Fans waited for the victors to arrive at the iconic Brandenburg Gate later in the morning

All ready to board? The players are whisked on to a team bus, that includes '2014!' to mark their achievement in South America

Give us a wave! Mesut Ozil (left to right), Ron-Robert Zieler, Erik Durm, Mats Hummels, Shkodran Mustafi and Roman Weidenfeller engage with the fans

Get the beers open! Ozil, Benedikt Hoewedes and Per Mertesacker on the truck

KOMBE LA DUNIA 2014: UJERUMANI WABEBA KOMBE BAADA YA KUIFUNGA ARGENTINA 1 - 0

Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!

Thomas Mueller akishangilia goli.

World cup winner: Gotze looks to the heavens after scoring his goal, deep into extra time

Mchezaji wa Timu ya Ujerumani Thomas Mueller akiwatoka wachezaji wa Argentina Marcos Rojo na Ezequiel Garay kwenye mecho ya fainali.

Wachezaji wa Ujerumani Christoph Kramer na Jerome Boateng

Mashabiki wa mpira wakiwa wamejitokeza kwa wingi ndani ya uwanja.

Mashabiki wampira wakiwa wamebeba picha ya captain Lionel Messi wa Argentina.

Kifamilia Familia zaidi: Mchezaji wa zamani wa timu ya England David Beckham akiwa na watoto wake watatu Brooklyn, Cruz na Romeo wakiwa wamevalia jezi ya timu ya Argentina.

Wachezaji wa zamani: Mchezaji wa zamani wa Brazili Kaka na Pele wakiwa na Beckham kabla ya mpira.

Mchezaji wa zamani wa timu ya Brazili (kushoto) akiwa na nyota David Beckham.

Mashabiki wa timy ya Ujerumani.

Mashabiki wa timu ya Argentina wakiwa katika nyuso za furaha.

Supporters: With their faces painted in a show of support for their home country, these German fans enjoy the match build up inside the Maracana

Utabiri wa mashabiki.

Kombe likiingizwa uwanjani.

Rais wa FIFA Sep Blatter akizungumza na German Chancellor Angela Merkel na Rais wa German Joachim Gauck

Wakiwa katika vyuso za taharuki ni Rais wa Russia Vladimir Putin, kushoto ni Rais wa FIFA (katikati) na Germany's Chancellor Angela.

Show love za mashabiki.

Mashabiki wa mpira leo wamekutana katika fukwe za nchini Brazil kwa ajili ya kuangalia fainali ya kombe la Dunia 2014 kati ya Ujerumani na Argentina.

HOLLAND 0-0 COSTA RICA (4-3 PENS): SUPER SUB TIM KRUL THE HERO AS LOUIS VAN GAAL'S SIDE PROGRESS TO WORLD CUP SEMI-FINALS

*Holland are through to the World Cup semi-finals after a penalty shootout victory against Costa Rica.

• 
  
• *Tim Krul was brought on in the last minute of extra-time JUST for the penalty shootout
• *Newcastle goalkeeper saves two of five spot-kicks to send Holland through

By IAN LADYMAN

• Maybe Louis van Gaal is the genius he often purports himself to be after all.

Here at a rapturous Arena Fonte Nova, Van Gaal made one of the biggest calls of this World Cup and saw it take his team in to a semi-final with Argentina on Wednesday.

Having seen his team pour all over Costa Rica for 120 minutes but fail to score, Van Gaal sent on Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul to face the penalties.

Krul had barely had time warm up and the man he replaced,  Jasper Cillessen, had made a save in the 118th minute to keep his country in the competition.

But Van Gaal is a coach who always seems to know what he is doing and Krul saved the second Costa Rica penalty from Fulham’s Bryan Ruiz, and then the fourth from Michael Umana, to take  Holland through.

It was all that the Dutch deserved, too. Not only did they produce a nerveless shootout performance to score through Robin van Persie, Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben and Dirk Kuyt, they were relentless all night in the face of some remarkable  misfortune.

Super sub: Holland's Tim Krul makes the decisive save to deny Costa Rica's Michael Umana in the shoot-out

Ecstatic: Holland's players celebrate after Krul's heroics sent Louis van Gaal's side through to the semi-finals

Jumping for joy: Holland's Dirk Kuyt was the first Dutch player to congratulate goalkeeper Krul

Delight and despair: Goalkeeper Tim Krul celebrates after saving a penalty from Costa Rica's Bryan Ruiz (left)

Talking tactics: Holland boss Louis van Gaal and assisstant Patrick Kluivert speak with Krul on the touchline

Bold move: Goalkeeper Tim Krul replaced Jasper Cillessen ahead of the dramatic penalty-shootout

So close: Robin van Persie saw his late shot strike the bar after deflecting off Yeltsin Tejeda on the line

Flying Dutchman: Arjen Robben theatrically goes to ground following a challenge from Cristian Gamboa

Grounded: Robben falls to the floor as Junior Diaz and Michael Umana stop the Dutchman in his tracks

Referee! Robben appeals for a free-kick during the first half of Holland's match with Costa Rica

Come on, ref: Ravshan Irmatov from Uzbekistan shares a laugh with Robben after the half-time whistle

Flying high: Robin van Persie is forced to jump over Keylor Navas as the goalkeeper claims the ball

Aerial duel: Holland defender Stefan de Vrij feels the full force of the ball as he beats Christian Bolanos in the air

Fall to the floor: Bryan Ruiz takes a tumble under Memphis Depay as Bruno Martins Indi watches on

Bend it like Sneijder: The Holland frontman unleashes a curling effort at goal which evades Yeltsin Tejeda

Eyes on the prize: Bryan Ruiz brings the ball down on his chest under the challenge of Daley Blind

Under pressure: Marco Urena makes a pass as Holland frontman Wesley Sneijder chases the ball down

One for the cameras: Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas stretches through the air to make a save

 

Costa Rican confidence was growing and who could blame them? Since the interval, Holland had threatened only sporadically.

Van Persie and Robben combined midway through the half but the centre-forward’s return into Robben’s path was underhit and Costa Rica cleared.

Van Persie was having a poor night. Van Gaal then brought on Jeremain Lens. He was offside when bringing a save from Navas before Sneijder smacked a post with a free-kick.

Van Persie then brought a low save from Navas. On both occasions, Costa Rica were fortunate to see the ball rebound to safety.

Even Van Persie could not be blamed deep in added time, when his far-post shot from a Daley Blind cross rolled up Yeltsin Tejeda’s shin and on to the bar.  

It was an astonishing end to a 90-minute period that belonged to the Dutch. Into extra time and Ron Vlaar saw a header saved then Acosta had to hack clear from his own line. 

Nothing they could do, it seemed, could save them from the ordeal of a penalty shootout. And even then Costa Rica almost won it at the death, Marcos Urena weaving through to shoot against Cillessen, before Sneijder struck the bar with two minutes left.

Second best: Arjen Robben loses out as Costa Rica's Celso Borges gets a strong foot on the ball

Stretching: Costa Rica's Junior Diaz does his best to rob the ball from Robin van Persie

Hot pursuit: Dirk Kuyt turns with the ball in an attempt to avoid Christian Bolanos' challenge

In control: Joel Campbell takes the ball in the air as Holland's Aston Villa centre back Ron Vlaar watches on