Coach Juergen Klinsmann has told German players that if they do not want to wear the boots of team sponsors Adidas, they will not play in the national team.

"There won't be any Germany players with any other boot than Adidas," Klinsmann said in an interview with Sport Bild newspaper.

The newspaper reported a union representing professional football players (VdV) had written a letter saying there were "problems with individual contracts with manufacturers of sporting goods other than Adidas".

The letter was sent to Thomas Brdaric, Miroslav Klose, Frank Baumann, Thomas Hitlsperger, Timo Hildebrand, Jens Lehmann, Arne Friedrich, Dietmar Hamann and Christian Woerns, it said.

Under the terms of Germany's sponsorship and equipment contract, players must be completely kitted out in Adidas gear.

Klinsmann said: "If any player believes he has to take legal action so that he can play in his own boot (brand), well he can't sue to play for us.

"If he doesn't accept the terms, he won't come with us and he can watch the match on television."

In October, goalkeeper Lehmann was told by the German football association (DFB) he must change his gloves to Adidas or risk losing his chance of playing in the 2006 World Cup, to be staged in Germany.