FRANZ Beckenbauer has branded Germany as a "bunch of journeymen" after their 3-0 defeat by the United States.

The football legend let rip as the once-mighty Germany's decline continued.

Beckenbauer, now Bayern Munich president and head of his country's bid to stage the 2006 World Cup, said: "There are too many mediocre players in this team, they are journeymen. Where have all the talented players gone?

"For the first time we are finding it hard to produce a new generation."

Yeah, but I bet they can all take penalties.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.