German World Cup heroes return to clubs

Germany's World cup heroes are starting pre-season training at their clubs while those from Bayern Munich will kick off their duties with a brief trip to the US.

Winger Andre Schuerrle joined team training at Chelsea on Monday, just over three weeks after setting up Mario Goetze's 1-0 extra time winner against Argentina in the Rio de Janeiro final.

Goetze, for his part, has a few days more off, but like the other World Cup players from Munich - Manuel Neuer, Philipp Lahm, Jerome Boateng, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Thomas Mueller - will fly to Portland where Bayern play a Major League Soccer all-star team on Wednesday.

The six Munich players will then start pre-season training after Thursday's return to Germany.

Matthias Ginter is already training at his new club Borussia Dortmund at a camp in Switzerland, Erik Durm and Kevin Grosskreutz were set to arrive there on Monday while goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller and Mats Hummels have been given a few more days off by coach Juergen Klopp.

That also applies to Real Madrid's Toni Kroos and Sami Khedira, and the Arsenal trio of Per Mertesacker, Mesut Ozil and Lukas Podolski.

"I have given them a good break because I have experience of players who have been in the World Cup final. You need a rest," said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

Wenger believes that the three won't be ready to feature in the August 16 Premier League opener against Crystal Palace.

The Bundesliga starts a week later, and Schalke's Julian Draxler can't wait, set to train again on Tuesday instead of staying on holiday until Saturday as originally permitted by coach Jens Keller.