Germany isn't just the first team to qualify for the 2008 European Championship. It's the best team on the continent and should win its fourth title next year, according to German great Franz Beckenbauer.
"The German team is at the moment the best and the steadiest team in Europe," Beckenbauer said in an interview posted Monday on the Web site of the German soccer federation DFB.
Beckenbauer, a DFB vice president and president of Bayern Munich, praised coach Joachim Loew, who has won 12 of 15 games since he took over after the World Cup and lost only one. Germany finished third at last year's World Cup.
"Under him, the team has made a great step forward, it's become more stable and is ready to win a title," Beckenbauer said.
Germany, a three-time European champion, secured its place in next year's tournament in Austria and Switzerland with a 0-0 draw at Ireland on Saturday in Group D.
The Czech Republic could also qualify if it doesn't lose against Germany on Wednesday in Munich, because it has a better head-to-head record against Ireland.
Germany has 23 points, the Czech Republic 20, both from nine games, while Ireland has 15 from 10. The Czechs only need a point from their remaining three games to qualify.
With Germany already qualified, the match in Munich may have lost some of its intensity, although Loew promised that his team would not take it easy.
"They will be very motivated because they still haven't clinched their qualification and they will want to avenge their defeat at home (2-1)," Loew said. "I expect an open game and we want to win and defend our first place in the group."
Loew will reshuffle the team, however, with striker Bayern Munich striker Lukas Podolski to start before his home fans.
Podolski came on as substitute in Ireland and Loew said he was pleased with his performance. Podolski is not getting much playing time in Bayern this season after coming back from a long-term knee injury.
Loew is still without several starters, including captain Michael Ballack of Chelsea and Podolski's Bayern Munich striker colleague Miroslav Klose. Klose is nursing a knee injury and Ballack is still recovering from ankle surgery.
Also on the injured list are defenders Philipp Lahm of Bayern Munich and Christian Pander of Schalke, both with knee problems.
Four other midfielders are also injured - Tim Borowski of Werder Bremen (back), Bernd Schneider (knee) Roberto Hilbert of Stuttgart (ankle) and Thomas Hitzlsperger of Stuttgart (toe).
In addition, starting goalkeeper Jens Lehmann of Arsenal got a second yellow card against Ireland and will be replaced by Timo Hildebrand of Valencia.
Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, who suffered a cut on his temple in the game against Ireland, is expected to be able to play Wednesday, although Loew left it open whether the Bayern player would start.
Since the split-up of Czechoslovakia, Germany has won four of five games against the Czechs, winning its last title in the 1996 final of the European Championship in England with a 2-1 victory on a "golden goal" by the team's current general manager, Oliver Bierhoff.
Czechoslovakia beat West Germany on penalties to win the 1976 European Championship in Yugoslavia.
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