Franz Beckenbauer has described Germany as the "perfect team" and believes they are favourites to defeat Spain and reach the World Cup final.

Perfect team? World Cup winning coach and captain Franz Beckenbauer believes the current Germany side are favourites to beat Spain

Germany have been in sparkling form during the knockout stages in South Africa, and after impressive wins over England and Argentina they have been installed as tournament favourites.

"This team, it's the masterpiece of Joachim Löw. He has placed his mark on its make-up and created a perfect team," Beckenbauer said.

"I have rarely seen such mastery of the game from a German team. Perhaps only in the 1970s and the World Cup winning team of 1990."

Beckenbauer was speaking the day after Germany's 4-0 thrashing of Argentina in the quarter-finals, and the former Germany coach and manager has been impressed by the side's ability to successfully marry effective and attractive football.

"In the past, we would say that you had to leave the beautiful game in the dressing room, but this team shows that it is not a contradiction and that you can play well and win."

Beckenbauer believes Germany are favourites to win in Durban and thus gain revenge for their 1-0 loss at the hands of Spain in the 2008 European Championships final.

"Germany have an advantage over Spain, who haven't yet shown the form that they did when winning the Euro 2008 title," Beckenbauer said.

"They haven't yet looked very convincing and struggled to snatch victory in the quarter-finals against Paraguay."