‘‘Perhaps we don’t know their names as well as we know those of French players and other big teams, but it gives us no right to underestimate any of their players,’’ he warned. ‘‘We would be absolutely dumb to do that.’’

But the Bayern Munich keeper is confident that the Germans will do themselves justice.

‘‘We are a very harmonious unit and I have a feeling that we’ll have a very good World Cup.

‘‘The first game is the most important, it’s absolutely decisive for the rest of the tournament.’’