Germany's World Cup organising committee president Franz Beckenbauer now believes the hosts are among the favourites to win the tournament starting next month because of the enthusiastic home crowds.

Thousands of German soccer fans in Germany.[filephoto]

Beckenbauer, who in recent months had sounded pessimistic about Germany's chances, wrote in a column for Bild newspaper that Germany are among the teams to beat after they crushed Luxembourg 7-0 before a frenzied crowd in Freiburg on Saturday.

"We're not the favourite based on what we've got but clearly a co-favourite because we'll be playing at home," wrote Beckenbauer, who coached the 1990 World Cup winning team and was captain of the 1974 side that beat the Netherlands in the final.

"The football enthusiasm was not bad beforehand but now you can really feel the way everything is starting to vibrate and everyone can't wait for the tournament."

Beckenbauer said he was impressed with the crowd support for Germany at Dreisam stadium in Freiburg on Saturday.

"The team clearly play better when they're fired on by the home crowd," he said. "The recent record has been been eight wins, four draws and only one defeat in German stadiums -- and that loss was against Brazil in the Confed Cup.

"That is an encouraging record," he said.

Germany play Costa Rica in the opening match of the tournament n Munich on June 9. Poland and Ecuador are also in their group. The tournament concludes on July 9 in Berlin.