Franz Beckenbauer on Monday blasted Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann, who is already under fire after a 4-1 loss to Italy last week in a friendly.
Beckenbauer refrained from joining the criticism of Klinsmann after the Italy rout, but is angry that he flew home to California instead of attending a workshop of World Cup coaches which started on Monday.
"The coach of the host country has to be there -- that is beyond question. If I have to think about this anymore my choice of words would be more drastic," said Beckenbauer, Germany's most influential soccer figure.
German soccer officials also said they might add three warmup matches leading up to the World Cup to give their struggling young team more practice after the dismantling by the Italians.
Klinsmann has often been attacked for splitting time between his homeland and California, where the coach lives with his family. Many believe he should stay in Germany until the June 9 start of the World Cup.
Beckenbauer said it "doesn't make sense" any more to tell Klinsmann again that he needs to be in Germany leading up to the World Cup.
"I've often told him that he has to be in Germany more -- now is prime time," Beckenbauer said.
The Italy loss came only 100 days before the World Cups starts, prompting some German lawmakers to demand that Klinsmann appear before parliament to explain how he plans to win the country's fourth world title with his struggling squad.
The Bild newspaper also photographed Klinsmann arriving at Los Angeles airport and rebuked him for being in the California sunshine instead of snowy Germany.
World cup checkups
World Cup soccer players will have extensive medical checkups including heart checks, FIFA said on Monday.
Players from the 32 countries that have qualified for soccer's premier event will undergo cardiovascular and electocardiogram tests to reduce the chances of cardiac arrest.
"As the attention of the whole world will be focused on the World Cup in Germany, FIFA is sending out a clear signal that the footballers' well-being takes pride of place," FIFA chief medical officer Jiri Dvorak said.
Team doctors were briefed at a conference on doping control regulations and signed a joint declaration pledging to support FIFA's anti-doping strategy.
They were also issued defibrillators to be used on players, officials and spectators whose hearts stop during games.
At the 2003 Confederations Cup, Cameroon midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe died after collapsing on the field from heart failure.
Under the motto "An injury and doping-free football festival for 2006," the team doctors were trained in how to prevent and treat injuries and avoid over-training.
FIFA is conducting random doping tests in matches and at training camps leading up to the World Cup. Four players from each team will be tested.
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