Portugal will beat Germany in the Euro2008 Quarter Finals - according to Germany legend Franz Beckenbauer.
Prior to the start of Euro 2008, Germany had never won ANY game at all in the European Championships since they beat the Czech Republic in the Final of Euro 1996. In Euro 2000 and Euro 2004, the Germans failed to win all their games.
In Euro 2008, apart from an easy win over Poland, the Germans lost to Croatia (the team that also beat England to prevent them qualifying), and narrowly beat Austria, the tournament's lowest-ranking team.
Beckenbauer says Germany must improve against high-flying Portugal when the two team meet in the Quarter Final on Friday....
Euro 2008: Franz Beckenbauer - Portugal will destroy Germany
By John Cross Reporting From Vienna
18/06/2008
The Mirror
Germany only narrowly defeated Austria, the tournament's lowest-ranked team, to reach the Quarter Finals
EURO 2008 QUARTER FINALS:
PORTUGAL VS GERMANY
CROATIA VS TURKEY
ITALY VS SPAIN
HOLLAND VS RUSSIA OR SWEDEN
Prior to the start of Euro 2008, Germany had never won ANY game at all in the European Championships since they beat the Czech Republic in the Final of Euro 1996. In Euro 2000 and Euro 2004, the Germans failed to win all their games.
In Euro 2008, apart from an easy win over Poland, the Germans lost to Croatia (the team that also beat England to prevent them qualifying), and narrowly beat Austria, the tournament's lowest-ranking team.
Beckenbauer says Germany must improve against high-flying Portugal when the two team meet in the Quarter Final on Friday....
Euro 2008: Franz Beckenbauer - Portugal will destroy Germany
By John Cross Reporting From Vienna
18/06/2008
The Mirror
Germany only narrowly defeated Austria, the tournament's lowest-ranked team, to reach the Quarter Finals
EURO 2008 QUARTER FINALS:
PORTUGAL VS GERMANY
CROATIA VS TURKEY
ITALY VS SPAIN
HOLLAND VS RUSSIA OR SWEDEN
Franz Beckenbauer has written off Germany's chances of beating Portugal in their Euro 2008 showdown.
The Germany legend launched a stinging attack on his nation and said they will be dumped out of the tournament unless they improve dramatically from their final Group match with Austria.
Beckenbauer said: "Do we have a chance against Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portuguese with such a performance? No, not at all.
"On Thursday our XI have to clearly improve in order to make it into the semi-finals. The German midfield was quite devoid of ideas; there were scarcely any combinations.
"The Austrians have gone out of the Euros in a respectable way, but did not stretch Germany to the limits.
"If they had played a bit more precisely in the first half, it would have been closer."
Beckenbauer also launched a fierce attack on referee Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez for sending off both coaches following the touchline spat between Joachim Loew, Austria coach Josef Hickersberger and the fourth official.
Beckenbauer added: "The action of the referee was not only unnecessary, it was also outrageous. Both coaches were only trying to do their job according to the rules.
"They have done nothing which is forbidden. With this action, the referee almost managed to let the game get out of hand. I hope that Loew will be on the bench on Thursday and can finish his work."
Loew will discover his fate today as to whether he will be banned from the touchline and also from the dressing room following his bust-up. UEFA insist the Germany boss would not be able to give a team talk.
Uefa spokesman William Gaillard said: "It is strictly enforced like any disciplinary measure. If you suspend a player, he does not participate in the match. "The suspension of a coach means he does not go to the dressing room or communicate with the bench during the match."
Thomas Hitzlsperger, however, believes that Germany can thrive against Portugal as few will give them a chance of winning.
Hitzlsperger said: "We will have to raise our game, but it was tough against Austria and we expected that because they are the host nation.
"It's different to Portugal, but we'll have to be better because the Portuguese team have so many good individual players.
"We always have pressure because at every tournament Germany are one of the favourites.
We have had this so-called easy group, but it wasn't that easy at all.
"We showed our qualities against Poland, but we'll have to show them again against Portugal because to go out in the quarterfinals would be a big disappointment.
"It was good we won against Austria because we wanted to convince ourselves we are good enough to play at the highest level and to compete with the best teams. Now we are convinced we can win the tournament because we are into the quarter-finals.
"If you want to win this tournament you have to play against the best teams. Portugal are among the best, but I'm quite confident about Thursday.
"It won't be an easy situation if the manager is banned, but he has three days to work with us and tell us what he wants us to do. Hopefully, that will be enough for us to beat Portugal."
mirror.co.uk
