Beckenbauer wants to give Klinsmann a new contract

He said: "I really hope Klinsmann will continue. He left a big influence on this team, the players trust him.

"You can't say that Italy were two goals better, but they were more clever. The German team played well, but Italy deserved to be in the final."

Klinsmann is under contract only until the end of the 2006 World Cup finals.

He has so far been vague about his future and there are reports that the United States are interested in him coaching the USA team.

After the defeat to Italy, he said: "My own situation is not the most important thing right now. I need some time to let all of this sink in and some time to speak to my family."

Klinsmann chose to continue living in California until shortly before the World Cup and he has resisted calls for him to re-settle in Germany.

Beckenbauer, who won the World Cup as a player in 1974 and as a coach in 1990, was critical of Klinsmann before the tournament and suggested a replacement should be identified in case Germany went out early.

But Klinsmann led the team further than many had expected, winning over the nation in the process.