PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) - Franz Beckenbauer opened his meeting with Trinidad's Prime Minister on Monday with a vote of confidence for the smallest country in this year's World Cup finals.
"You're going to beat England right?" asked the World Cup organizing committee president.
Prime Minister Patrick Manning said: "We'll do our best."
Beckenbauer, the only person to have won the World Cup as a player and coach, was visiting the Caribbean two-island republic of 1.3 million for the organizing committee's welcome tour.
In Germany, Trinidad and Tobago will play in Group B with Sweden, England and Paraguay.
Although Beckenbauer broke the ice with support for Trinidad and Tobago's "Soca Warriors," an adviser traveling with him said it would be nearly impossible for the former British colony to upset England.
"They have a very experienced coach but the team (Trinidad) itself is not that strong." said Markus Jestaedt, a World Cup media adviser traveling with Beckenbauer. "As a new team their chances aren't so good."
Beckenbauer's adviser said Trinidad was too old and the team too inexperienced on the international stage.
"Their star Dwight Yorke scored many goals in his career, but that was years ago," said Jestaedt. But "the World Cup has a lot of surprises, you never know what could happen."
Trinidad was the 26th stop on Beckenbauer's 31-nation tour. He had just arrived from Brazil, the defending World Cup champion. He will go on to Costa Rica on Tuesday, wrapping up an eight-country swing through the Americas with a visit to Mexico City and New York this week.
"The main country on this tour for us is Costa Rica because Germany is playing them in the opening match." said Jestaedt.
The World Cup starts on June 9, with the final on July 9 in Berlin.
