The Football Association this week named Roy Hodgson as Fabio Capello's successor, ending a period of uncertainty for the national team following the Italian's departure in February.

But Heynckes, whose side face Chelsea in the Champions League final, believes such a delay, which has left Hodgson with little more than a month to prepare for Euro 2012, would be unthinkable in Germany.

"No, I cannot imagine that this delay would happen in Germany," he was quoted as saying by The Sun. "Absolutely not because we have a totally different mentality.

"I don't think it would be possible in Germany.

"They would have sorted it out way, way before. Whether it's with a club or a national team, when one manager finishes, the next day the new one is presented."

Heynckes, who won the Champions League with Real Madrid back in 1998, also admitted he was surprised the FA had chosen Hodgson over Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp.

"I don't know him well. But I've followed the discussions and also heard the opinions of the national team players and they would have preferred the Tottenham manager," he said.

"But as often with national associations, they don't listen.

"To be the manager of the English national team is not that easy. What do I know? Maybe there were difficulties, or problems with Redknapp."

His sense of surprise was echoed by Bayern and Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Midfielder Schweinsteiger said: "The work Redknapp has done at Tottenham is perfect. The other one, I don't know.

"I hope he will bring the national team of England back to the top because it is a footballing nation and England should be one of the top teams in the world."