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Klinsmann doubts England can win Euro 2012
15/03/2012 5:00:00 AM
The former Germany international does not foresee the 1966 world champions triumphing in Poland and Ukraine, believing it is difficult to again look past Spain
United States coach Jurgen Klinsmann has admitted that he retains doubts over whether England have the mental strength to win Euro 2012.England have repeatedly arrived at major tournaments being talked of as potential champions only to lose their bottle in penalty shootouts or to seemingly come unstuck because of problems within the camp.
Consequently, Klinsmann wonders whether a side currently without a permanent manager can really triumph in Poland and Ukraine this summer.
"England has a strong squad before every major tournament on paper," the former Tottenham Hotspur striker told SPOX.com.
"But they have never found the right chemistry in the team and they fail more on account of themselves than their opponents.
"About England, I have my doubts."
Klinsmann, though, has not such worries about his native Germany. However, the big concern, as far as he is concerned, is whether Joachim Low's men can finally upset a Spain side which defeated them on the way to winning both Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup.
"We are hoping to lift the cup," the former Germany international enthused. "The team has strengthened over the years, having been underpinned by the younger generation, from [Mesut] Ozil and [Sami] Khedira to [Andre] Schurrle, [Marco] Reus, and [Mario] Gotze.
"The quality is there to stand up at the crucial moment. But Spain remain the team to beat. They are still number one, the world's best.
"But they have won so much in recent years, so we can hope that a little bit of their hunger is gone - and then we have to bite."
As for the other possible contenders, Klinsmann believes that Italy deserve to be treated with respect, even though he led the USA to a 1-0 friendly win over the Azzurri in Genoa last month.
"Italy has a team with tremendous class," he claimed. "They have changed their style and Cesare Prandelli is coaching the team more offensively.
"Italy have to be reckoned with, while France, Netherlands and Portugal will also have a say."
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