FOOTNOTES : U.S. World Cup Team Criticized

Franz Beckenbauer today criticized U.S. preparations for this year’s World Cup and dismissed as “pure speculation” suggestions that he might take a job with the U.S. Soccer Federation after the tournament ends.

Beckenbauer, who played for the New York Cosmos in the late 1970s, will quit as West German team chief at the end of the World Cup after six years in charge.

Beckenbauer had scathing words about the organization of the current U.S. team, trounced 5-1 Sunday by Czechoslovakia.

“They’ll have to start reorganizing and building up or they will experience the same debacle in four years as here.”