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BONN () -- German soccer supremo Franz Beckenbauer said Friday that forcing the German national team to play against nations such as Albania and Moldova was a slight.
Beckenbauer called on UEFA to end "these stupid games" and said smaller countries should play separate qualifiers in international competitions, allowing the "great" soccer nations to play against each other.
"When I think of international matches, I imagine clashes with the great nations, Italy, England, the Netherlands. But at the moment we have to wait two years before we meet these soccer greats," Beckenbauer said in a commentary in the mass-circulation Bild newspaper.
"That's why games against countries like Moldova are a slight to the German national squad. They're just stupid."
Former world champions Germany defeated Moldova 3-0 Wednesday and face Albania on Sunday in the European Championships.
Franz Blasts Small Fry
17 December 1994
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