It has taken 44 years but finally Germany has their revenge over England for 1966. No Russian linesman required this time, just a near sighted Uruguayan!
On that June day, 120 minutes were needed to sort out a winner between these two great rivals, only 90 were required in Bloemfontein as Joachim Loew's, young, unfancied team tore, Fabio Capello's golden era boys, a new one.
It was a performance to be proud of from the Mannschaft and one wonders just how far this team can go in the competition. They have sparkled, spluttered, groundout and now soared. I wonder what is next?
As the youngest squad in South Africa, many pundits, myself included, thought that the pressure would simply be too much. Even thinking that thought now, seems laughable, as the team plays with the spirit and confidence of hardened campaigners.
The again, what else should we expect from the country that is the ultimate World Cup competitor. Miroslav Klose is still the hungry goal scoring machine we saw in Korea/Japan '02. Philipp Lahm has smoothly inherited the captaincy from Michael Ballack without skipping a beat. Lukas Poldolski has rediscovered how to score goals while Mesut Oezil is on course to become a the tournaments best young player.
Were England outclassed, out thought and out played, the answer is yes. Might the result have been different 'if', I guess we'll never know.
As the minutes drained away on the 'Golden Generation' there was certainly time for reflection of what could've and should've been their 'finest hour'.
Yes, it is hard to choke down the blown call by Jorge Larrionda of Frank Lampard's drive though. Had it been mere inches, you could certainly understand 'human error' however it wasn't inches or even feet, it was a yard! To miss a goal like that on this stage is unforgivable and I'm fairly sure he won't be officiating the final.
In all fairness though, up until Mathew Upson had made it 2-1, Germany were completely bossing the game. Once again England failed to do the simple things, such as keep possession, track runners, defend and attack as a unit. With all the time that had been spent at the Royal Bafokeng training center, I'm surprised Capello hadn't figured at least that out.
Ultimately England aren't as good as they think they are. The basics of the game that most nations seemingly take for granted are still beyond our 'best' players.
A radical rethink must be undertaken and the English Football Association should go cap-in-hand to the victors of this game, Germany, and ask how it is done.
The Germany FA pumps millions into youth and academy football and as you witnessed, the results have been staggering. The English FA meanwhile wastes millions on an expensive coach, an ugly stadium and wining/dining junkets in South Africa - need I say more.
The post-mortem in England will surely be brutal and the questions many.
1. Should Capello resign
2. Was Wayne Rooney even fit
3. Was the John Terry saga, a distraction
4. Was the right squad taken in the first place
These and more will be endlessly discussed between now and Brazil 2014. Personally I'm disappointed but not surprised, after all, I've been conditioned to 44 years of failure.
What does hurt is that week-after-week covering the Premiership, I see these same players perform with a smile, confidence and swagger. In an England shirt that all drains away.
Congratulations Germany, you are a deserved winner just don't ever ask me about goal line technology and 1966!
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