Germany legend Franz Beckenbauer is tipping Italy to follow up their 2006 World Cup triumph with glory at Euro 2008.

The Kaiser sees the Azzurri as the favourites in Austria and Switzerland, but believes a host of other nations, including Germany, will put up a good fight.

"I don't believe there will be an outsider winning like Otto Rehhagel's Greece in 2004," he wrote in his Bild newspaper column.

"It will instead be a more classic football country, which means Italy. Even without their injured captain (Fabio) Cannavaro, they remain the top favourites for me.

"Then I would say either France or Holland, because only one can survive the group of death, and Spain and obviously Germany. Yes, we have a real chance."

Beckenbauer believes the fact his nation are not being billed as potential winners could allow them to perform as they did at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups.

Both times Germany were unfancied because of worrying form leading into the competitions and shaky qualifying campaigns, but they showed fine team spirit and finished second and third respectively.

This time Germany cruised through the qualifiers to become the first nation after the hosts to reach the finals, but many people are favouring Spain, Portugal or Italy.

"Maybe we are not the number one favourites, but I feel like (former West Germany manager) Helmut Schon, who always said to our national team that the others have got to beat us first," Beckenbauer added.