Spain defender Gerard Pique is adamant that Germany are the favourites to make it to the World Cup final.

The Spaniards were able to defeat Germany in the Euro 2008 final two years ago but Pique believes that Spain will have a tougher time defeating them on this occasion.

"I feel happy for the team and the country. It is the first time we are in the semi-finals and it great to make history,” Pique told The Mirror.

"Germany are a very difficult team, really strong, with a lot of quality, a lot of good players, and it will be difficult to stop them.

"I think when you are the semi-finals, there are no favourites. It is true because they won 4-0 against Argentina and 4-1 against England that they are in a really good mood. But we will see.

"Germany and Spain both have new players in the team and it will be a different game to Euro 2008.

"Germany have a lot of new young players like Ozil, like Muller, Khidera, that are new in the team and they are playing great."