Germany can get to the final. That isn't me saying it, it is German legend Franz Beckenbauer and well, he is German and you just have to admire his optimism. I'm not, I just can't see it this time round.

We all know football is a team game, but Germany lost their most influential player in Michael Ballack as well as Christian Traesch, Simon Rolfes and first choice keeper Rene Adler and I'm sorry to say it but even German efficiency isn't going to get them to the final.

There you go, our big World Cup prediction; Germany will not make the final. But don't take our word for it, we also said Italy wouldn't win the World Cup in 2006 and Herr Beckenbauer does know a little more about football than us.

"I saw them playing recently against Hungary and Bosnia, very impressive. You know the Germans, the spirit, they always fight till the last minute - Germany is respected by the opponents because they never give up," he told reporters.

"Ballack is the most important player in the German team and a World Cup is a great stage for the really big ones and when they are not there, they are missed - but if the other players are able to give 5-10 percent more, you can balance that out - and the team can get to the final," he said.

We say good luck to Germany in Group D and while we think they really should get through, we wouldn't be surprised if two of Australia, Serbia and Ghana did enough to beat them to the prize.