Beckenbauer blasts England style

England struggled against the US in their opening fixture on Saturday

Germany legend Franz Beckenbauer has launched a blistering attack on England's playing style in their opening game at the World Cup.

While Fabio Capello's team laboured to a 1-1 draw with the United States, Germany crushed the Australians 4-0.

The former German captain, 64, said: "What I saw of the English against the US had very little to do with football.

"It looked to me as if the English have gone backwards into the bad old days of kick and rush."

Joachim Loew's German side has looked the most impressive so far in South Africa, with the Bild newspaper declaring: "We're going to blow you all away" after their opening win in Durban.

England are hoping for an improvement in performance in forthcoming games against Algeria and Slovenia to enable them to top Group C and avoid a last-16 clash with the Germans - who are the likely winners of Group D, although Ghana and Serbia may prove tougher opposition than Australia.

606: DEBATE I don't get all the doom and gloom, we will qualify and then we can see if we are developing when the knock out stages come Mancunian Red

Beckenbauer, captain of his country in the 1966 World Cup final defeat by England and the 1974 victory over The Netheerlands, believes England's problems were the result of a shortage of talent in the Premier League.

"I am not sure if the England coach Fabio Capello can still change much there," he told South African newspaper The Times.

"The English are being punished for the fact that there are very few English players in the Premier League as clubs use better foreign players from all over the world."

Capello would no doubt prefer to see more English players in the domestic top-flight, but questions have also been raised regarding the team's lack of preparation with the new Jabulani ball being used in South Africa.

The ball has been used in domestic football in Germany, France and Argentina since February, but not in England.

Altitude is another factor which has been affecting England's squad, with defender John Terry admitting last week that the players were taking time to adapt to the conditions.

England are based in Rustenburg, 1,403m above sea level, while Germany are playing their games at sea level in Durban.

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