Beckenbauer does a U-turn

Franz Beckenbauer moved his position after a public spat with Juergen Klinsmann this week by saying he now believes Germany can win the World Cup this summer. Earlier Beckenbauer turned the heat up on Germany coach Klinsmann saying the World Cup hosts had not improved with him in charge. 8220;At the beginning it worked out very well and Klinsmann was able to change a few things but now there8217;s not much left of all that,8221; Beckenbauer, the president of Germany8217;s World Cup organising committee, said in Munich. 8220;We are back where we were a few years ago and time is running out,8221; added Beckenbauer, who won the World Cup as a player in 1974 and as a coach, with Klinsmann in his team, in 1990. But on Thursday in Belgrade he said he believed the host nation could lift their fourth title with Klinsmann in charge. 8220;There is no question that Germany can win the World Cup. They are a young if inexperienced team and their strength lies in the support they need and surely will get from the home crowd,8221; he said.

FOOTY FACTOID: Four people were arrested in Berlin this week for approaching German second division players with thousands of Euros to influence results of atleast five games, Frankfurt state prosecutors said.