Germany should follow Barcelona and Spain's example and play without a striker, says Beckenbauer

Beckenbauer advocates Barca style

09 Feb 2013 2:55:00 AM

The Germany legend feels the Mannschaft should experiment by playing without a recognised striker to mirror the system employed by Barcelona and world champions Spain

Former Bayern Munich player Franz Beckenbauer has suggested that should Germany play without a classic 'No.9'.

La Liga giants Barcelona have achieved great success playing with such a system, while the Spain national team, which has adopted the same approach on occasion, have had a positive experience from using it, too.

The World Cup winner believes the current crop of German internationals is sufficiently talented enough, particularly in midfield, to successfully utilise the same system as well.

"With the players at Joachim Low's disposal, he has enough quality to play without a striker," Beckenbauer told Bild.

"We have so many technically gifted and crafty midfielders that are able to attack in a dynamic way. Against France, sometimes Ozil was leading the line, sometimes it was another. Spain and Barcelona are showing the way in this respect."

Nevertheless, Beckenbauer admits that such a system would not work for every team and Bayern Munich are one of them.

He added: "At Bayern the players are different. There is more importance to the wingers. When Franck Ribery attacks from the left, there needs to be a striker like Mario Gomez or Mario Mandzukic waiting in the centre."