Beckenbauer slams Klinsmann for hiding in USA

DUSSELDORF, Germany (AFP) - Franz Beckenbauer, head of the 2006 World Cup Organising Committee, offered some stinging criticism to Germany manager Jurgen Klinsmann after he failed to attend the World Cup coaches workshop.

While other leading managers such as England's Sven Goran Eriksson and Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira attended the workshop, Klinsmann elected to stay at his home in the United States.

"Jurgen Klinsmann should have been here. This is a meeting he had to make and there are not too many of them," Beckenbauer said Monday.

"Of course he can go to the United States to see his family but he needs to spend most of his time here in Germany ahead of the World Cup.

"I do not know how many times I have spoken with him about it but clearly there is no point. If he can handle the criticism then fine."

Klinsmann, a World Cup winner with West Germany in 1990, has long been criticised for his decision to continue flying back to his Californian base and recent poor results have not helped.

Last Wednesday Germany lost 4-1 to Italy in Florence and the German media ridiculed Klinsmann's ambition to win the World Cup, running from June 9 until July 9.

"After the 4-1 in Italy it was necessary for him to be here to pick up the pieces," Beckenbauer said.

"If he sees it differently then he must live with the criticism."

Despite Germany's indifferent results Beckenbauer believes home advantage could be the key for the three-time World Cup winners.

"There are technically better teams but we can compensate for that," said Beckenbauer.

"We are not in the position to compete in Italy or other places but it is different at home."

Beckenbauer was in charge the last time Germany, then in the guise of West Germany, won the World Cup back in 1990.

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After the 4-1 loss to Italy last week, Klinsmann's actions do seem a bit daft.


In other German football news, goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, fighting with Jens Lehmann for the number one spot in the Germany team for the World Cup, believes he still has the edge over his rival.

"The national team coach told me again recently that I was the number one and would remain the number one as long as I kept performing well," the Bayern keeper told Monday's issue of German soccer magazine Kicker.

Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann, however, said he would not decide the battle of the goalkeepers until the end of the Bundesliga season.

If Kahn is healthy, it should be his spot.