Former Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann tipped European champion Spain to win the World Cup.
"If they can show up in the same form as they did at the European Championship (in 2008), they will be very hard to beat," Klinsmann said Tuesday.
Klinsmann, who led Germany to a third-place finish on home soil four years ago, believed defending champion Italy was a bit of a mystery.
"I don't think they are as strong," Klinsmann said of the team that beat Germany in the World Cup semifinals in 2006.
Klinsmann said Germany could reach the semifinals again under his successor and former assistant Joachim Loew, although he felt the absence of injured captain Michael Ballack would be difficult to overcome and that the young squad lacked experience.
"It's going to be hard without the leader," Klinsmann said.
"Germany is among the six, seven, eight teams that are always mentioned, the expectations are always the highest at home. It's expected that we reach the semifinals," Klinsmann said.
