Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff said his side still need to be wary despite qualifying for the Euro 2012 finals with a perfect record.
The 1996 champions took a conservative approach after Joachim Loew s men were drawn against the Netherlands, Portugal and Denmark in Group B on Friday night.
We know these are very good teams with technical front players. It won t be easy but we are in the final round of the European Championship. We have a very tough group, perhaps the toughest group in the tournament, Bierhoff told Goal.com.
But we will be well prepared and have the quality to beat all the teams. It could be the worst group on paper, especially also with the rivalry that we have with Holland. But it will be fun. We know that we need the right preparation and to be focused.
I have been very impressed by Robin van Persie. He is an excellent player for Arsenal and we have to pay attention to him.
Bierhoff played down his side s favourites tag, and stressed that anything can happen at tournaments.
Everybody has been speaking about favourites but you know the history of tournaments. You never expected Greece to win the tournament (in 2004) or in 1996 the Czech Republic would reach the final or in 92 that Denmark would win, he said.
Every time it is difficult and it depends also on the availability and fitness of the players.
The former striker then looked at Germany s squad and pointed out that they have plenty of options.
We are more experienced and more grown up. We have the choices of two or three other news players like Toni Kroos. So I think we grew during the qualification. You could see that. But you still have to win a tournament to be a big team, he said.
It helps that our young players get experience in the Champions League at the big clubs. You can see that especially with Mesut Oezil or with Sami Khedira. When they are together with the best players in the world they become better too and also so does the performance of the team.
Bierhoff voiced his admiration for Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo and stated that the attacker is one of the best in the world.
Every time it is hard and difficult to play against him, he said. We did very well in 2008. We will have to see how we do it now.
The best thing would be not to let him get the ball so he doesn’t have the space or the time to make all those tricks. For this, we have time now.
It is difficult to say he s the best in the world. Lionel Messi is also playing well. Both players have been playing for a long time at an incredible level. For sure, he is one of the best.
Germany start their tournament with against Portugal in June 9, before meeting Netherlands four days later and finally Denmark.
