The Germans were also truly a team. There was no single player who could be judged to be the outstanding talent of the their team; instead this was a brilliant collective of hungry athletes who thrilled throughout the finals until they were eventually stifled by Spain's suffocating passing game.

Thomas Muller, the 20-year-old Bayern Munich prodigy, did emerge as the pre-eminent young player of the finals courtesy of his five goals and three assists.

But Muller was only one of half a dozen who made or cemented their reputation in South Africa.

There was Sebastian Schweinsteiger, the stocky, gifted playmaker who ran the central midfield.

There was also Sami Khedira, a forceful holding midfielder from VfB Stuttgart who was the destructive influence for their opponents' attacks; Schalke keeper Manuel Neuer, only 24 and hugely reliable; and Philipp Lahm, perhaps the best full-back in the world now.

Perhaps the most exciting new talent was Mesut Ozil, a creative genius, still only 21, and destined not to stay long at Werder Bremen.

Their first match saw Australia dismissed 4-0, but the penny did not drop then that this was a team to be feared.

Indeed, when they lost 1-0 to Serbia in the second game it was assumed that this side was still too young and inexperienced to make an impact, ignoring the fact that they dominated possession and had to play much of the game with 10 men after Miroslav Klose was sent off.

That feeling was still there after Ozil's fantastic strike saw off Ghana and set up a mouthwatering last-16 clash with England.

Little needs to be said about that match - forget Frank Lampard's disallowed goal. The 4-1 thumping illustrated just how much was wrong with English football, and how the Germans were reaping the benefits of their 10-year youth development plan implemented after their disappointments in France '98 and Euro 2000.

If Germany were good against a faltering England side, they were astonishing when pitted against an Argentina team who had genuine aspirations of making the final: 4-0, and farewell Messi and Maradona.

Muller's suspension did not bode well for the semi-final against the Spanish, though even he would have struggled to cope with a Spain side whose passing game hit its peak.

Victory over Uruguay in the third-place play-off was some consolation - and also an indication that Germany are back among the superpowers.

There was only one cloud to cast a shadow: coach Joachim Low's dress sense. Lucky or not, those tight, coloured jumpers will go down as the fashion mistake of 2010.

Great team Jogi - but put a shirt on.