Franz Beckenbauer believes Germany should not be considered among the favourites to lift the World Cup after an injury-hit build up.

Skipper Michael Ballack is the key absentee for Joachim Low's side after he picked up a foot injury while playing for club side Chelsea in the FA Cup final last month, while the absences of Rene Adler, Heiko Westermann, Simon Rolfes and Christian Trasch will also be keenly felt.

"Without Michael Ballack it will be difficult. Our team is weakened," Beckenbauer told the Berlin newspaper Der Tagesspiegel. "We'll have to work hard just to reach the semi-finals."