I predict that the above headline will be coined by one English tabloid by the end of the day. It was a beautiful game of football, and it seemed as if the national wave of enthusiasm could not possibly be quenched, but then the Italians struck finally with their "abgezockten" football, and no-one could ever truly understand what it was like.

Tonight, an intelligent and good-natured German made this remark: "Now I now what it is like to be English." Usually it's the Germans who play the kind of clever, emotionless, defensive football that the Italians showed this evening, while the English battle fruitlessly, much as they did on Saturday, all struggle but no clarity. But here we are in the new millenium, and it turns out the Germans can lose tragically after fighting their little hearts out too. Where is the strutting, diving Germany of old? Where are Guido Buchwald and the insufferable Andi Möller? Making comments for the benefit of some cable TV channel I shouldn't wonder, while their footballing descendents offer a new face of the German footballing nation. This is at it should be. The nation loves these modest heroes.

RIP Gemany. You'll never walk alone.