Franz Beckenbauer just wont give it a rest. The week before last he hit out at how England play football - toady he is claiming the England players are burnt out.

"The English look a little tired," Beckenbauer said to a German paper. "There is a good reason for that: the Premier League players have got to play far more games than their Bundesliga colleagues, including two national cup competitions. Therefore, when it comes to a World Cup or a European Championship, they are burnt out.

"Our players, on the other hand, seem to be in a physically better condition. Of course we respect them, but we certainly don't fear them. England's first two appearances at the World Cup were paltry, but they improved against Slovenia."

Beckenbauer also had a pop at the French last week and no doubt he will find something else to knock tomorrow but we are reliably informed by some German friends that he is well known for talking nonsense.

But with such an important match coming up, surely someone with his experience should know it is best to leave the talking to the players on the day of the match - whatever he says now will only make him look even more foolish if England win.