Germany vs. England at the 2010 World Cup: The final test

When Philipp Lahm lifted the World Cup trophy in July 2014, it was considered a triumph for a generation. Toni Kroos, Sami Khedira, Mesut Özil, Manuel Neuer, Jérôme Boateng, Thomas Müller – a host of German players who were born around the same time and had since earned the "world class" seal of approval. Now the title of "world champion" was added to the mix.

The first signs of this success came a few years ago, at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. More precisely, it all began on June 27, 2010. With a 4-1 win in the round of 16, the generation demonstrated for the first time that they had successfully taken over the national team. And against England, of all teams. Against their eternal rivals, this team took its first step on the road to the 2014 World Cup title.

But let's start from the beginning: anyone talking about the 2010 World Cup cannot fail to mention the 2009 U21 European Championship. There, the future world champions of Neuer, Boateng and Özil appeared together for the first time and impressed in a similar way to the way they did at the World Cup the following year. Mesut Özil played razor-sharp passes, hardly anyone got past Sami Khedira and when they did, Neuer caught almost every ball – he only conceded one goal during the entire tournament. Even then, in Sweden, great things were predicted for them. Their opponents in the final: England. The result: 4-0. A year later, four of those U21 European champions were back on the field: Jérôme Boateng, Manuel Neuer, Sami Khedira and Mesut Özil. Another, Dennis Aogo, was on the bench. This time, however, with the senior national team.

The young guard of players in their early twenties, including Thomas Müller, joined a group of still young but experienced players: Mertesacker, Schweinsteiger, and Podolski, for example, had already participated in the "Summer Fairytale" four years earlier. Miroslav Klose, Arne Friedrich, and Philipp Lahm served as something of a council of elders for the team. The big question before the tournament arose with Michael Ballack's injury: How much would the captain be missed?

The answer: Little to none. The tournament got off to a successful start. To the sounds of vuvuzelas, Germany beat Australia 4-0, immediately inviting dreams. The Corriere della Sera saw "fantastic football, the best so far at this World Cup." The Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet ran the headline: "Germany will humiliate teams other than Australia." And Aftonbladet was proven right.

Not in the next two group matches, however. Germany more or less muddled through the group stage. A 1-0 defeat, including a second yellow card for Miroslav Klose, against Serbia brought the team back down to earth. The final group match against Ghana was less disappointing, but the German team didn't play particularly euphorically either. Nevertheless, the 1-0 win meant they topped the group and advanced to the round of 16 against the runners-up in Group C – England.

This was, of course, a godsend for the media. Germany versus England, the classic. "England is thirsting for revenge," headlined The Times. The Sun described a "gigantic clash." "Germany versus England - the first clash of giants at this World Cup is perfect," headlined the Brazilian newspaper Lance . Naturally, war and battle metaphors of all stripes were employed, and various funny and not-so-funny caricatures were created. In short: the atmosphere was electric.

From the first minute, the pressure from both teams was palpable, but at least as quickly, German superiority became apparent. Closely united, swift, and with incredible confidence, the German team began to play against Fabio Capello's England, with some help from their opponents. "We were wild, and Germany took us apart in return," Peter Crouch, who didn't play that time, recalled the match in the Daily Mail . "Their tactics worked perfectly."

In just the fifth minute, Mesut Özil had a chance to make it 1-0 after Bastian Schweinsteiger's pass was lifted over three English players to the right edge of the penalty area – a chance that David James was just able to thwart. However, after 20 minutes, the opening goal finally came. Two players and two touches were involved. A long clearance from Manuel Neuer reached the opponent's penalty area, where Klose prevailed in a one-on-one and poked the ball past the onrushing James into the net.

Barely ten minutes later, it was 2-0, but the outcome was a little different: Sami Khedira, Mesut Özil, and Thomas Müller combined to set up the goal with short, quick passes down the right wing. After a fine outside-of-the-foot pass from Miroslav Klose, Müller set up Lukas Podolski, whose shot from the left was unstoppable for James and found the far corner. Far more decisive than these individual actions, however, was the image presented by the German team in this game: They gave the impression that they could beat any opponent and, above all, play them down. "They dominated them with their playing skills," said Günter Netzer in the TV studio.

Veteran Miroslav Klose was also impressed. "I've always emphasized that we have a great team. I was very impressed today," he said after the match. Or, in the words of the man who particularly shone on June 27th: "Great game today!" Of course, Thomas Müller.

He had already shown his qualities against Australia, not only assisting a goal but also scoring one. Against England, however, he reached a new level: Having been promoted from the Bayern amateurs to the senior team just a year earlier, he dominated the game in his now-familiar style. He played the game-changer, set up Lukas Podolski's 2-0, and scored the next two himself. Thomas Müller embodied the determination of 2014 four years earlier. And it permeated the entire team.

Things could have turned out differently, though. With the score at 2-0, England took a short corner, and Matthew Upson was left criminally unmarked at the back of the German penalty area, nodding in the equalizer. In the brief confusion following the 2-1 lead, a scene occurred that made that June evening a myth: the equalizer.

More precisely, the supposed equalizer. From 17 meters, Frank Lampard hit the underside of the crossbar. The ball bounced from there to the ground, then back onto the crossbar before Manuel Neuer could grab it. Lampard and the Three Lions fans cheered, beside themselves – but the game continued. No goal. Even though the ball had landed well over the line. "It's 1966 all over again!" shouted the English commentator into his microphone. Wembley 2.0. One thing is clear: with VAR and goal-line technology, this story would probably have turned out differently.

"As a team, we showed that we can achieve anything if we stick together. We played world-class. It doesn't matter who our opponent is," said Mesut Özil after the match. A self-confidence that is important for major titles. The FIFA commentator struck a similar note: The English were "defeated by this very promising, confident, young German team." He further predicted: "They will be here for many years to come."

The title wasn't enough in 2010. The journey ended in a familiar place, just like at the 2008 European Championship: against Spain, where a generation of highly talented players also delighted the football world. But good things take time. Four years later, Mario Götze, André Schürrle, Mats Hummels, and Benedikt Höwedes, among others, completed the team, and Toni Kroos was no longer a bench warmer. With new players, but essentially the same, things worked out: the golden generation turned gold.