Germany can beat Argentina again in the World Cup quarterfinals as long as they continue playing attacking football, Franz Beckenbauer said on Friday.
The German football icon told DPA in an email interview that the team has done well so far in South Africa and won many friends with its attractive style.
Beckenbauer won the World Cup as a player in 1974 and again as a coach in 1990, 1-0 in the final against Argentina.
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The two sides met in the 2006 quarters, with Germany winning on penalties, and Beckenbauer has faith in the class of 2010 as well ahead of Saturday’s date in Cape Town.
“The chances are good. They must continue playing with courage and attack like they have done so well up to now. If that is the case we can hope to reach the semifinals,” said Beckenbauer.
“Football can be easy sometimes. What it takes is to score a goal more than Argentina do.” Der “Kaiser” Beckenbauer said that Germany’s youth was not a negative factor against the greater experience of Lionel Messi and company.
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“You can achieve a lot with this freshness, also against such a shrewd team such as Argentina,” he said.
Beckenbauer gave the royal nod to the team of coach Joachim Loew, which also received heaps of praise from many countries, especially for its impressive 4-0 over Australia in the group stage and a 4-1 drubbing of England in the round of 16.
“So far I like the team a lot. Its appearance is very harmonic and disciplined. I believe that the team has won many friends beyond those in South Africa,” Beckenbauer said.