With Euro 2012 due to kick off tomorrow, team manager Oliver Bierhoff has insisted any talk of Germany facing holders Spain in a repeat of the final four years ago is far too premature.
Having won the 2010 World Cup and lifted the Euro 2008 title, Vicente del Bosque’s Spain are the team to beat at Euro 2012.
The tournament, to be hosted by Poland and Ukraine, kicks off tomorrow when Poland take on Greece in Warsaw before Russia later play the Czech Republic in Wroclaw, Poland.
Germany arrived at Euro 2012 as one of the favourites to challenge Spain with Joachim Loew’s team to face Portugal in Lviv, Ukraine, on Saturday, then Holland and Denmark in Group B.
Spain, who are based in Sopot on the north Polish coast, begin the defence of their European title in Group C against Italy in Gdansk on Sunday with Ireland and Croatia also to come.
Germany and Spain were the only teams to finish their qualifying campaigns with 100% records, but Bierhoff dismissed any early talk of them meeting in the final in Kiev on July 1.
“There is no doubt Spain are the absolute top favourites as they have played a brilliant qualification campaign,” the 44-year-old said.
“But I want to sound a note of caution: it is far too early to have any talk about a Spain against Germany final.
“There will definitely be one or two surprise teams and there are some big names lurking in the background like France, whose campaign was less than impressive, then there is Holland.
“It really depends on the teams form and how good their players are on the day.”
Bierhoff said the current crop of rising stars are title contenders.
With an average age of just 24, Joachim Loew brings the youngest squad to Euro 2012 and confidence is high, despite friendly defeats to France and Switzerland this year.
“This team has shown a fantastic winners mentality,” he said.
“They have smiles on their faces every day and are a new generation of football players who are high on team spirit and low on hierarchy.
“They don’t need a leader of the pack, togetherness is not just a word, here it’s practised on a daily basis.”