Klinsmann convinced Germany can achieve great things at World Cup

Former Germany coach Jürgen Klinsmann is convinced that the national team can achieve great things at the World Cup following the performance in the first two group stage matches.

"Everything is possible. I'm really optimistic that we will go far in this tournament," he said on Tuesday during a visit to the German House of Soccer in New York.

He added he was "happy that things got off to such a positive start, that the atmosphere feels really good, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed."

Germany still have one game left in the group stage against Ecuador on Thursday, but have already qualified to the knock-out stage as group winners.

"From the moment you make it through the group stage, a new tournament starts. Then every game is a final," Klinsmann said.

The team will certainly need a bit of luck here and there, and it will probably have to face a penalty shoot-out at some point, he added. But Klinsmann also stressed that the team still has room to improve.

"It's going to be a long, long tournament," he said. That makes it all the more important that the players have a "good spirit."

Klinsmann declined to take a stance amid the debate over whether substitute Deniz Undav belongs in Germany's starting line-up after scoring three goals in two matches.

However, the he said he is "a fan of the number nine" and "a fan of Deniz. The way he came on and did his job is incredible, that's great."

Klinsmann also lamented the situation of defender Nico Schlotterbeck, who was ruled out of the World Cup due to an injury.

"That hurts. Still, we have so much quality in this squad," he said. It's a shame, he added, but the team will manage even without Schlotterbeck.

Klinsmann said Brazil are the favourites to win the title in his opinion and that he's convinced that Carlo Ancelotti is "among the best three coaches in the world."