SEOUL, June 14 (Xinhuanet) -- German soccer great Franz Beckenbauer blamed the surprise defeats of pre-tournament favorites at the World Cup on player fatigue and called for actions to reduce the number of games.

　　"There are billions of people watching this World Cup and they are watching tired stars. This is not the future. It is impossible," Beckenbauer told a news conference on Friday.

　　"In South America they had to play 18 qualifying games. This isimpossible. FIFA has to react to this situation."

　　Beckenbauer pinpointed France midfielder Patrick Vieira, who plays his club soccer for Arsenal, as an example of burn-out.

　　"How many games has he played? Eighty or 90. It is impossible to be fresh with 38 league games, 17 (European) Champions League games and Cup games. It is logical that you have to be tired. You could see that they were tired," he said. Enditem