Kuranyi’s pardon gets Beckenbauer backing

(GSM) – Former Germany World Cup winning captain Franz Beckenbauer has urged Germany coach Joachim Loew to pardon Schalke 04 striker Kevin Kuranyi and recall the top Bundesliga scorer to the World Cup squad.

Loew removed Kuranyi from the national team in October 2008, and since stood firm by his decision to never recall the striker again as long as he is the coach.

Kuranyi, being unhappy for being unable to make the bench for a World Cup qualifying match against Russia, left the stadium at halftime and had his friends collect his stuff from the team hotel.

“The national team is not a private affair of a few individuals that have a problem with each other,” Beckenbauer wrote on his Monday column for Bild newspaper.

“The national team belongs to all of us. We want to win our fourth World Cup title in South Africa. For that, we need all top players, including Kevin Kuranyi.”

Kuranyi’s 17 goals have helped Schalke take the lead in the Bundesliga over Bayern Munich. Loew was at the stadium Saturday as Schalke beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-0, with both goals coming from Kuranyi.

“Jogi, open your eyes,” the crowd chanted in the direction of Loew, whose nickname name is Jogi.

Beckenbauer condemned what he called a “lifelong ban” for Kuranyi, who had 19 goals in 52 games for Germany before his banishment from the national team.

“This categorical ‘No’ has always disturbed me,” said Beckenbauer, a member of the football federation’s board and still the most influential voice in German football.

“A lifelong ban for a football player? I always thought this was stretching things.”

Beckenbauer suggested that top federation officials and Loew should sit down together and find a solution, and he called Kuranyi “the best German striker at the moment.”

Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski, who usually start, have scored two goals apiece this season.

Kuranyi has not given up hope of making the World Cup squad but has said the decision was up to Loew.

“I am having the time of my life,” Kuranyi said of his current form.