Germany could replace Ukraine as the joint hosts with Poland because UEFA fear that the stadiums and infrastructure will not be ready in time because of the current economic crisis, the Sueddeutsche Zeitung claimed in an article published today. 

 

Beckenbauer, the influential FIFA vice-president, admitted to the newspaper that he has been discussing the situation with Michel Platini, the President of European governing body UEFA.

 

He told Sueddeutsche Zeitung: "It is not a mystery that we have been running talks in Zurich concerning our actions in case the Ukraine does not meet the deadlines.

 

"One such solution could be holding Euro2012 by Poland and Germany."

 

Beckenbauer, who captained Germany to World Cup victory in 1974 and was then coach when they repeated the triumph in 1990, was the chief organiser of the 2006 World Cup held in his country.

 

The main concern is over the reconstruction of the main stadium in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine.

 

Platini has also investigated the possibility of staging Euro 2012 in Spain, it is claimed.

 

Beckenbauer said: ”Let us wait until the next sitting of the UEFA Executive Committee on January 30.

 

"Then it will become clear whether the Kyiv stadium is likely to be ready on time.

 

"Without it, as Platini stated, Euro 2012 will not be held by the Ukraine."