Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn believes the host country can cause a major shock on home soil and make it to the latter stages of the competition.

Kahn helped Germany reach the final four years ago when they were expected to falter early on in the competition and the Bayern Munich veteran thinks a repeat is possible.

He told www.sport1.de: "Nobody gave us a chance in 2002.

"Everybody thought we would go out early, but the players didn't let that bother them and grew stronger together game-by-game.

"Since then, our confidence levels have risen, the whole team has been given a huge motivational boost and there were a lot of admirers of our team, which also helped us go further.

"We can certainly take on board that experience and, if everything falls into place, anything is possible."