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 Beckenbauer told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa in an exclusive interview that he expects a superb continental tournament June 7-29 in Austria and Switzerland because of smooth organisation and the quality of the qualified teams.

 "It will be a great Euro ... The organisers are doing a good job. The participating teams will ensure that Euro will be a success. There is a guarantee for good matches," Beckenbauer told dpa at the current UEFA Congress in Zagreb.

 Beckenbauer captained Germany to the first of now three Euro titles in 1972, to the 1974 World Cup crown and also coached Germany to World Cup glory. He is president of the nation's top club Bayern Munich and organiser of the successful 2006 World Cup in Germany.

 The host team placed third at the home World Cup and the "Kaiser" Beckenbauer believes that the team of Joachim Loew can also play a major role at Euro 2008 - even though he is a little more cautious than last year.

 "Being the clear favourite is exaggerated. Many rivals had a slump after the World Cup. The Italians, Spaniards, the French had big problems and only got more stable later. One year ago I would have said that Germany is the clear favourite. But the others have caught up, so I say that Germany is among the top contenders," he said.

 However, in order to play an important role everything has to come to together.

 "Coach Joachim Loew has has played for one year without Michael Ballack, Torsten Frings and Bernd Schneider. You have to wait and see what happens to the team harmony when the key players return. The preparation will be crucial," Beckenbauer said.

 Team captain Ballack from Chelsea is back from an eight-month layoff, Bayer Leverkusen's Schneider is set to return while Werder Bremen's Frings is sidelined for several weeks with yet another knee injury. The midfield trio are crucial for the team.

 Germany have only two friendlies - against Austria next week and the Swiss in March - before Loew will nominate his 23-player Euro squad in mid-May.

 The roster will include Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, but question marks remain around the 38-year-old because he is only second choice at English league leaders Arsenal and did not move elsewhere during the January transfer window to get more matches.

 "It's a problem. If Lehmann makes a mistake everyone will say 'how could you let him play.' That is not a nice situation and carries risks. It would be the best if Loew could say soon: 'this is my number one who plays (league) matches.'"

   Beckenbauer acknowledged that Lehmann is the best goalkeeper and said the issue was more difficult because second-choice Timo Hildebrand was having a hard time at Spanish crisis club Valencia.

 "Goalkeeper is an important position. This is no easy task for Joachim Loew," said Beckenbauer.

 Speaking on other issues, Beckenbauer suggested that he may not run for Munich president re-election in 2009 because he was kept busy by other jobs such as vice-president of the world governing body FIFA.

 Beckenbauer said he expected the frontrunners Munich to win another league title as the Bundesliga resumes from its winter break on Friday and added that the new Munich coach from summer onwards, the former Germany helmsman Juergen Klinsmann, will not have to revolutionize the club.

 "I don't know if that is necessary. He established a completely new coaching language. That was a revolution. Now many things have been taken over, even by Ottmar Hitzfeld, so that many issues are no longer revolutionary.

 "I can't imagine that he will make staff changes, that he dumps (chairman) Karl-Heinz Rummenigge or myself," Beckenbauer said with a smile.

DPA