Germany hails ´dream start´ after Socceroos rout

“We’re going to blow you all away” screamed Bild newspaper on Monday after Germany’s 4-0 humiliation of Australia in their first World Cup match in Durban.

“Dream start for Germany,” ran the ticker on the N24 rolling news television channel as it showed images of the 35,000 fans draped in the national colours watching the match at the “fan mile” at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.

Former German stars were effusive about the team’s performance as the three-time champions outclassed Australia in every department with goals from Lukas Podolski, Miroslav Klose, Thomas Mueller and Brazil-born striker Cacau.

“What we saw today was simply brilliant. That was football of the highest quality. The German team is on top form and right in the tournament now. A perfect start,” said former Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn on ZDF television.

Shouts of “Deutschland, Deutschland, Deutschland” rang out in the night throughout the football-mad country cities as drivers of cars patriotically flying the national flag honked their horns in approval.

One of Berlin’s main shopping streets, the Ku’Damm, was closed off to traffic for two hours after the final whistle after it became clogged up with cars carrying Germans wanting to party.

Bild summed up the renewed surge of optimism in the country by saying: “The whole of Germany now suddenly has the feeling that it’s our World Cup. Why shouldn’t we even win the title?”

And the Die Welt daily probably summed up the feelings of many observers of Germany, who have yet again come into the tournament with an unfancied side and yet suddenly put themselves among the favourites.

“As so often before, the German team has hit form at exactly the right time,” the paper said.

Germany’s remaining Group D matches are against Serbia on June 18 and Ghana on June 23.