Metzelder: Spirit will make up for lack of quality

Defender Christoph Metzelder admits Germany do not have as much quality as some of their rivals at Euro 2008.


Joachim Low's side are the favourites to take the title in Austria and Switzerland ahead of the likes of Spain and Italy.

But their preparations for the tournament have not gone too smoothly - a draw with Belarus was followed by a late win over Serbia - and Metzelder feels the team cannot compete on the ability front with their main competitors.

The 27-year-old does not believe that rules them out of the running for the title, though.

The Real Madrid centre-back told Kicker magazine: 'Other teams have more quality than us.

'But that is not all that matters in a tournament. We have other characteristics, which in such a short time frame can compensate in some way for our deficiencies - team spirit, a good atmosphere.

'We have already been able to generate a sense of euphoria in the team with the World Cups in 2002 and 2006 (where Germany finished second and third respectively).

'We have to create that again this time. To do that we obviously need a good start against Poland (in their opening group game on June 8).'

The 27-year-old added: 'I have already said that other teams are ahead of us in terms of quality. But the players in our squad have proved in qualification that they can keep up with the level.

'We are on the right path in our development. And I assume we can add to it on the tournament.'

The former Dortmund defender is confident of being fully fit for the start of the championship.

Metzelder recovered just in time to be included in Low's squad after missing much of the Primera Liga season with a foot injury and played in the friendlies with Belarus and Serbia.

He said: 'I already felt much fresher (against Serbia) than I did against Belarus and am on the right track. The training sessions went well and for the first time had no problems in the foot that I had the operation on.'