Football: Hamann backs Spaniards to complete treble

With Andres Iniesta (right) still going strong, Dietmar Hamann feels Spain will be the team to beat.

Former German football star Dietmar Hamann thinks defending champions Spain with their top-class midfielders and an exceptional striker to convert their tiki-taka moves are the favourites to lift a third straight Euro trophy at Stade de France Stadium on July 10.
Didi (as he is popularly called) feels Joachim Low's German side carry many injured players but still 'has a fighting chance'.
The Liverpool legend was unsure about Belgian firepower. He was also bemused by England squad selection and said France would find a way to mess up their chances! 'La Roja' crashed out of the 2014 World Cup in group stages but Didi is upbeat about Vicente del Bosque's boys coming good in France. "Spain could be the team. Nobody's talking about them. They are under the radar. I quite like Spain's chances. They have many talented players," he said during the Euro 2016 chat at the McGettigan's in Abu Dhabi on Monday night.
"In the midfield, they can count on (Thiago) Silva and (Sergio) Busquets. "And (Andres) Iniesta is still going strong," he noted. "Also, in defence they have Gerard Pique and Sergio Ramos."
A potent striker to add goals blighted their World Cup prospects but Didi feels Spain have learnt from their past mistakes. "Probably for the first time, they have got a centre forward in (Alvaro) Morata. The Juventus striker could go all the way and take Spain through," the football pundit added.
Spain, with their blend of youth and experience, are a potent force. Also, it would be interesting to see who wins the battle of gloves - whether Iker Casillas or David De Gea. Spain start their campaign against the Czech Republic on June 13.
Moving onto his home team, Didi, who played for that German team which lost to the Ronaldo-inspired Brazil in the 2002 World Cup final, is not very keen on their chances and feels there are two or three other teams that are better equipped and in prime form at the moment. "Obviously they are the World Cup champions. But they have missed few players. Being the champions all teams would like to beat them."
On the inconsistent form of Mesut Ozil this year, Didi said the Arsenal star has a big role to play especially with injury to Marco Reus. "Ozil is an integral part of the team."
Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger is racing against time to be fit and play 90 minutes against Ukraine on June 12. But Didi was confident that Schweinsteiger 'will play'.
On the team composition, he revealed: "I don't think they will start with (Mario) Gomez."
He said Mario Gotze may threaten as a striker at top. "And if Gotze doesn't play then (Thomas) Muller and (Lukas) Podolski will probably come in."
"(Injured) Mats Hummels will miss the opener. (Jerome) Boateng is back fit and in (Manuel) Neuer they have the best keeper. So, defence is pretty solid."
Despite injuries, Germany will be a threat as the tournament progresses, he said.
"The longer the tournament goes the harder it will be to beat them. The fear factor will be there - they are the World champions. Facing them in the quarters or semis will be difficult for any team."
Sharing his thoughts on coach Joachim Low, he said: "He has taken the team to semis and finals of the World Cups and Euros. He has either won or taken Germany to semis of all the tournaments. He is a tremendous guy."
Low is under tremendous pressure as he struggles to put a first-choice 11 and also has found the going tough ever since Philipp Lahm, Per Mertesacker and Miroslav Klose retired after the World Cup.
When asked about the home team, Hamann said: "France have a talented squad but usually they find ways of destructing themselves. There has been a lot of talk about Karim Benzema and it will only get worse." Benzema hit out at manager Didier Deschamps' decision to leave him out of the squad and Eric Cantona has reportedly said it is due to Real Madrid striker's north African background.
"They have the most talented squad but they will find a way to mess it up," Didi added.
The former Premier League star said he felt 'strange' the way England team was selected with five strikers.
"Yes, at best they can play one centre forward or maybe two, which he shouldn't do. It's strange the way he (Roy Hodgson) has picked the squad."
England have Harry Kane, Wayne Rooney, Jamie Vardy, Daniel Sturridge and Marcus Rashford as forwards.
"I just don't think England keep the ball well enough. I can't see twhem going all the way. They may make it to quarters," he added.
On the 'Azzurri', he said: "Italy are a tournament team and don't concede many goals. But they miss the services of two of their best players in (Claudio) Marchisio and (Marco) Verratti. So that won't make things easier (in the midfield). Yes, Italy will always be a tough game and once in knockout stages, no one want to play them. But don't think they have enough to win it."
With Romelu Lukaku as striker, Chelsea's Eden Hazard and Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne in midfield, centre-back Thomas Vermaelen and Thibaut Courtois as the last line of defence. Belgium come to the party with star names and young guns. Didi, however, felt 'Belgium don't have the flair and they haven't done it as a team'.
The Euro Championship starts on Friday.