Tweet
England lack spirit
England lack spirit - Beckenbauer
Beckenbauer won the World Cup as both a player and a coach
German legend Franz Beckenbauer thinks the reason England are in danger of missing out on Euro 2008 is that they lack spirit. Beckenbauer said he was shocked at what he witnessed when England met Germany in a friendly at Wembley in August.
"It was like a school team, they were not talking and not supporting," said the 62-year-old Beckenbauer of Steve McClaren's side, who were beaten 2-1.
"That was for me the biggest surprise. There is no life in this team."
Beckenbauer said the England teams he faced as a player were a lot different.
A European Championship without England wouldn't be the same
Franz Beckenbauer
"The first time I played against England in 1965, then the World Cup in 1966, there was always a certain spirit," he said.
He said players like Alan Ball were always motivating those around them by shouting and yelling, but that the current England team was very quiet.
England face an uphill battle to qualify for next year's finals in Austria and Switzerland.
They need to beat Croatia at Wembley on 21 November and hope Russia drop points in their remaining two games against Israel and Andorra.
"A European Championship without England wouldn't be the same," added Beckenbauer, who won World Cups as both a player and coach. "That would be a big loss."
Beckenbauer won the World Cup as both a player and a coachGerman legend Franz Beckenbauer thinks the reason England are in danger of missing out on Euro 2008 is that they lack spirit. Beckenbauer said he was shocked at what he witnessed when England met Germany in a friendly at Wembley in August.
"It was like a school team, they were not talking and not supporting," said the 62-year-old Beckenbauer of Steve McClaren's side, who were beaten 2-1.
"That was for me the biggest surprise. There is no life in this team."
Beckenbauer said the England teams he faced as a player were a lot different.
A European Championship without England wouldn't be the same Franz Beckenbauer
"The first time I played against England in 1965, then the World Cup in 1966, there was always a certain spirit," he said.
He said players like Alan Ball were always motivating those around them by shouting and yelling, but that the current England team was very quiet.
England face an uphill battle to qualify for next year's finals in Austria and Switzerland.
They need to beat Croatia at Wembley on 21 November and hope Russia drop points in their remaining two games against Israel and Andorra.
"A European Championship without England wouldn't be the same," added Beckenbauer, who won World Cups as both a player and coach. "That would be a big loss."