Beckenbauer blasts Klinsmann

Berlin:

Franz Beckenbauer slammed Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann, who is already under fire after a 4-1 loss to Italy in a friendly last week. Beckenbauer had refrained from joining the criticism of Klinsmann after the Italy rout. But he was angry that the coach flew back home instead of attending a workshop of World Cup coaches which started on Monday. "The coach of the host country has to be there - that is beyond question. If I have to think about this anymore my choice of words would be more drastic," Beckenbauer said. Klinsmann has often been attacked for splitting time between his homeland and California, where the coach lives with his family. Many believe he should stay in Germany until the June 9 start of the World Cup. Beckenbauer said it "doesn't make sense" any more to tell Klinsmann again that he needs to be in Germany leading up to the World Cup. (AP)