Franz Beckenbauer has dismissed Germany's chances of winning the European championship in Portugal next year.

"The European title is rather unrealistic,"said Beckenbauer. "We will certainly play a decent part ... but there are better teams."

The former Bayern Munich and Germany great, who won the World Cup both as a player and a coach, is now the president of Bayern's supervisory board.

Beckenbauer said England, France, Italy, the Netherlands or hosts Portugal were more likely winners.

His views reflect those of Germany playmaker Michael Ballack, who said on Monday that other nations had more strength in depth.

Germany, who surprised many by reaching last year's World Cup final, play Italy in a friendly on Wednesday in Stuttgart looking for their first win over a major footballing nation in three years.

Germany won the European championship in 1972, 1980 and 1996.

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