Beckenbauer bullish after draw

GERMANY can beat almost anyone if they play with the same determination they showed in their opening 1-1 draw with the Netherlands at Euro 2004, Franz Beckenbauer claims.

“I’ve always said we shouldn’t let ourselves to be distracted by warm-up matches,” Beckenbauer wrote in Bild newspaper, referring to Germany’s string of disappointments in recent friendlies. “The only thing that counts is the tournament.

“The team fought with an incredible passion,” added Beckenbauer, captain of West Germany’s 1974 World Cup-winning side and later the coach of the team that won the sport’s biggest prize in 1990.