BERLIN, Oct. 4 -- Former German national coach Juergen Klinsmann is predicting a tight race for the 2018 World Cup title. According to the 53-year-old 1990 World Cup winner, Germany is among the favorites but won't win the 2018 title. Klinsmann is expecting Argentina and their superstar Lionel Messi to be more determined than other opponents.

"It is going to be extremely hard for Germany to win the World Cup again," the former German international commented in a recent interview with the Hamburg based sports magazine "Sports Bild".

Messi (FC Barcelona) has not yet won the World Cup in his career the former US national coach emphasized. The 2018 tournament will be the last chance for the striker to get to the top. Klinsmann is assuming Messi is desperate about reaching the same level as Argentine idol Diego Maradona. "Don't forget to consider Messi and Argentina have lost the 2017 final against Germany. They don't want that to happen again," Klinsmann said.

Next to Argentina Klinsmann mentioned personal ambitions for the teams of 2016 European Champion Portugal and their superstar Ronaldo (Real Madrid) and Paris St Germain superstar Neymar and the side of Brazil.

Klinsmann called Messi and Ronaldo fantastic footballers but said they wouldn't have reached the same level as Brazilian idol Pele, 1974 World Cup winner Franz Beckenbauer and Maradona.

If Germany manages to arrive at the 2018 semifinals, it is a great success Klinsmann stressed. "To again develop a similar amount of ambition, greed and hunger as in Brazil seem inhumane to me," the former Bayern Munich professional commented.

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