Capello has taken England backwards: Beckenbauer

Ahead of a possible last-16 meeting between England and Germany, football legend Franz Beckenbauer also known as Der Kaiser has increased the pressure on The Three Lions by saying that their coach Fabio Capello, had taken the team backwards.

Germany put up a spectacular show crushing Australia 4-0 on Sunday in sharp contrast to England's dismal 1-1 draw against the US.

Beckenbauer, who led Germany to World Cup glory in 1974, said: "It looked to me as if the English have gone backwards into the bad old times of kick and rush.

"What I saw from their 1-1 draw against the USA had very little to do with football. And I am not sure if the England coach Fabio Capello can change much," he added.

"The English are being punished for the fact there are very few English players in Premier League clubs as they use better foreign players from all over the world," The Sun quoted Beckenbauer, as saying.

Beckenbauer is clearly no fan of the England team and his attack is just being seen as part of a pre-meditated mind games move.

But Capello has told his England players: "I still believe in you."

He addressed England players following Saturday's draw with the US and then gave them another pep talk before training at their Royal Bafokeng base on Monday morning.