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South Africa could be among the favourites to win the World Cup on home soil next year if they can find someone to put the ball in the back of the net according to former World Cup winner Franz Beckenbauer.

"Der Kaiser", who won the World Cup with West Germany both as a player and coach and then ran the German World Cup organising committee in 2006, said he had been impressed by the Bafana Bafana.

But he added South Africa badly needed to find a striker.

South Africa, whose most dangerous striker Benni McCarthy was left out of the squad for the Confederations Cup by coach Joel Santana because he was perceived to be showing continued indifference to the national side, scored only two goals in four matches.

"The only thing you could mention is that South Africa need too many chances to score a goal, they need a finisher," Beckenbauer said.

"But if, by the time the World Cup comes around in a year's time they get a finisher, then I think South Africa will be one of the favourites in the World Cup. They really impressed me a lot last night."

South Africa could have created a major upset when they wasted a number of scoring chances in their semi-final against Brazil, before being beaten 1-0.

"I thought South Africa could even have won the game," Beckenbauer said. "Tactically South Africa, who have a Brazilian coach (Joel Santana), knew exactly what they were going to do, how to play them, and negate their tactics.

"Ask Kaka, he had no space in which to play. He moved left, he moved right, just to get away from the crowded midfield, so tactically South Africa were excellent.

He also said that he thought the first World Cup to be staged in the Southern hemisphere winter since Argentina in 1978 would benefit the European teams, even though world champions Italy and European champions Spain were eliminated earlier than expected.

"You can see that generally the players like the cooler weather, they moved around quicker you could see the way they were reacting and you can only have a fast game like this if the temperature is cool.

"I think the conditions are perfect for the World Cup, its better to play in the cool than in the heat."

He also said he would like the World Cup to return to Europe in 2018 after South Africa host it next year and Brazil stage it in 2014.

"It will be Europe's turn," said Beckenbauer, a FIFA executive committee member who will vote on where the World Cup is held when FIFA decide the venues for 2018 and 2022 next year.

"As a UEFA member I would like to see it in Europe, but it is an open race as to which country might get it.

"If the FIFA Executive Committee decided it was Europe, then England could host it tomorrow because they have the stadiums, the infrastructure, the fans, everything, but there are a lot of other different countries bidding. Lets wait and see."

Reuters