There was a twinkle in his eyes as he spoke, but Tom Dooley's words still carried a fair dose of menace for any Bermuda soccer fan.

The question had been: "What do you think the result will be? Five-nil, six-nil, seven-nil..?'' The answer was brief: "10-0.'' And then as if the message wasn't quite clear, Dooley held up both hands, with all 10 digits splayed.

Yes, his eyes appeared to be twinkling...but as far as one could tell there was no hint of a joke there.

Dooley, of course, had been predicting the result of this afternoon's match -- or, perhaps, mismatch -- between German powerhouse Bayer Leverkusen and Bermuda's Under-23 team.

The First Division Bundesliga side is brimming with internationals or players on the verge of breaking onto the world stage.

Some, like United States national team hero Dooley or Germany's veteran World Cup star Rudi Voeller are household names to anyone with a passing interest in the game.

Then there is new star Ulf Kirsten -- the darling of the German press -- who is forging a formidable partnership up front for the national squad with Jurgen Klinsmann.

Add to the list midfielder Bernd Schuster, striker Olaf Thon and defender Christian Worns -- all of whom have played with the national team -- and Romania's Ian Lupescu, and it is clear why Bayer Leverkusen are one of Germany's top sides.

Currently they are eighth in the 18-team First Division -- a disappointing position given their pedigree.

Any limp-wristed notion Leverkusen would not be taking today's game seriously was brushed aside by Dooley.

"We are professionals. When we go out to play everybody has to give their best. We have a lot of national team players and are one of the best teams in Germany.'' Dooley, whose American name belies his German accent and his Teutonic lineage (his mother is German and his father was a US soldier), was fully aware of Bermuda's limitations. "I think Bermuda is not a strong team.'' In some ways Bermuda would not provide his side with a test, he said.

But, as if correcting himself, he added: "It is however, always a test to give the best.'' Dooley explained playing Bermuda today and then the US Under-23 side on Sunday would form excellent practise sessions for Leverkusen as they prepare to resume their assault on the Bundesliga.

It broke away from the routine of playing among themselves.

With German press interest high in Leverkusen's activities, it was important for the side not to lower their guard during the upcoming games.

It was important to win -- and to win well, said Dooley.

"We don't want a tied game. We have to play to win clearly because the German newspapers would...if Bayer Leverkusen tied with Bermuda it would be bad.'' What the newspapers would do, Dooley couldn't find a word to express. But the meaning was clear. So, too, the gesture he made when the word escaped him.

Dooley, who hails from Kaiserslauten in southwest Germany, spoke to The Royal Gazette moments after a hectic workout with the team at Orlando's Seminole Country Sports Training Centre, which boasts six soccer pitches.

Even a training session -- Leverkusen come to the Florida sports complex every year for winter workouts -- is potential news back in Germany.

Yesterday freelance photographer Holger Nagel clicked away with his camera as the squad, clad in distinctive crimson and black strip, were put through their paces by coach Dragoslav Stepanovic.

Nagel predicted a rout at today's game with Bermuda.

"Five-nil, six-nil, seven-nil...no problem. It will be a little bit easy for the German team,'' he said.

"They are hard and very professional. Every day they are out training, every Saturday they train.'' Nagel added: "They are 100 percent professionals...no 110 percent...I would say 120 percent professionals.'' Coming to Florida each winter was no holiday for the squad, he said.

"It is hard work. They are all in bed by 10 p.m. To me that is incredible. I like to go out.'' Yesterday's workout lasted a good three and a half hours.

Coach Stepanovic bellowed out like a drill sergeant marching some recruits up and down a parade ground.

It was apparent he has no time for prima donnas. Big-name stars didn't get any favours.

Even Rudi and Tom had to step into line when the former Yugoslav roared.

"He's a hard coach, but all coaches are hard,'' said Nagal.

"But he is very, how do you say, easy in his free time. He likes to make jokes.'' After a series of stretching exercises, sprints, skipping and press-ups the Leverkusen squad was split up into groups of eight for some practise in short, sharp passing.

It was at this stage Voeller invited one of the onlookers to take part.

She was Michelle Akers -- a leading light in the US women's national team, the current world champions in the ladies' game.

After an impressive display, Akers exclaimed: "I've always admired Rudi Voeller. When he invited me to play I was delighted. I wouldn't turn down an opportunity like that.'' Whether Rudi and company will be quite so accommodating to Bermuda's Under-23 team today is very much open to doubt.

CLASS ACT -- World Cup star Rudi Voeller will be in the Bayer Leverkusen side which plays Bermuda's Under-23 team today.