Beckenbauer sees no clear winner

Abu Dhabi: German legend Franz Beckenbauer says he is expecting this year's World Cup in South Africa to be an "open race".

Laureus World Sports Academy member Beckenbauer, the only man to win the World Cup as player and coach, said it is difficult to predict a favourite as the gap between the nations was getting smaller and most teams have the potential of making the semi-finals of the tournament in South Africa.

"Germany are always tough competitors. We finished third at the last World Cup and second in the European Championships, so we have a good chance, but there are a few very good teams in Europe like Spain, Italy, England and France and all these have a chance to win in South Africa," said Beckenbauer.

"Our opponents from other continents are also very strong like Argentina and Brazil. Argentina beat Germany in a friendly recently, so they could be the favourites, but then the African teams are getting stronger all the time. Since the World Cup is being played in Africa, their fans will be behind them; teams like Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Ghana are all strong, but I don't think they're ready to win yet. They may make it to the quarterfinal or semi-final, so it is a very open race."

Beckenbauer, who played his club football at Bayern Munich, Hamburg and New York Cosmos before retiring in 1983, and coached Bayern, says managers today focus on playing a tight and compact game.

"It's been 30-40 years since I played and the fitness and style of playing has definitely changed. It's a different game today — the space is tight. In my day you could stop and look around, so it was definitely easier to play then."

Bayern's Franck Ribery is expected to make a decision on his future with the German giants in the next few weeks and Beckenbauer, 64, wants him to stay. "Ribery is very important for Bayern. He's the man who can change the game and we hope he will stay in Munich."

Beckenbauer trashed Bayern coach Louis Van Gaal's revolutionary proposals of having two referees on the pitch and cameras to replace linesmen for off-side and penalty decisions.

He urged officials to leave the rules of the game unchanged.

"Leave football as simple and as clear as it is, together with all its mistakes," he said.