Germany midfielder Michael Ballack believes the three-time World Cup winners are not good enough to win Euro 2004 in Portugal next year.
"All the teams want to win but for some it is not a realistic goal," the Bayern Munich playmaker told German newspaper Die Welt.
"I don't think we belong as the favourites," he added. "Teams like France, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy are ahead of us.
"We are in a difficult phase. The younger players need to adapt and that will take time. I also believe that the teams I've just named have more in-depth strength than we have."
Germany, who have won the European Championships three times and were runners-up at last year's World Cup, top their qualifying group for Euro 2004 but have failed to really impress so far.
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Ballack will miss Wednesday's friendly against Italy in Stuttgart because of a calf injury.
"All the teams want to win but for some it is not a realistic goal," the Bayern Munich playmaker told German newspaper Die Welt.
"I don't think we belong as the favourites," he added. "Teams like France, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy are ahead of us.
"We are in a difficult phase. The younger players need to adapt and that will take time. I also believe that the teams I've just named have more in-depth strength than we have."
Germany, who have won the European Championships three times and were runners-up at last year's World Cup, top their qualifying group for Euro 2004 but have failed to really impress so far.
Have your say on the 606 message boards
Ballack will miss Wednesday's friendly against Italy in Stuttgart because of a calf injury.