GERMANY legend Franz Beckenbauer believes England “have gone backwards” due to the lack of domestic players in the Premier League.
Beckenbauer saw Germany cruise to a convincing 4-0 win against Australia in their World Cup opener while England stuttered to a 1-1 draw against the USA.
Beckenbauer, who led his country to World Cup glory as manager in 1990, feels that England boss Fabio Capello could struggle to mould a successful side in South Africa.
In a column for South African newspaper The Times, Beckenbauer said: “What I saw of the English against the USA 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.
“I am not sure if the England coach Fabio Capello can still change much there.
“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.”
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