Beckenbauer speaks about Germany’s chances

Franz Beckenbauer, who coached Germany to the 1990 World Cup title and won the 1974 title as a player said the Germany squad needs to improve in order to succeed in their Euro campaign.

“They have to reach form now to play at the level they were at during the 2006 World Cup and the following months.” The German team managed to reach the semifinals of the World Cup and coasted past the preliminaries but failed to impress in the late friendlies.

Beckenbauer hopes the Germans make a good game in the upcoming friendly (March 26th) against Euro co-host Switzerland in their road towards winning their fourth European Championship.

“It would be contradictory to say our goal is to win the European title, then not count us among the top favourites“, he said.

However,he voiced concern about whether five starters from the last World Cup will be ready - seriously injured Torsten Frings and Christoph Metzelder, along with a trio reduced to reserves at their clubs, Jens Lehmann, Lukas Podolski and Bastian Schweinsteiger.