Any worries the Germans had about the loss of influential captain Michael Ballack were quickly put to rest in their 4-0 opening win against outgunned Australia in Durban. Richard Garcia provided an early scare for the three-time world champions in the nervy awkwardness of the opening exchanges, but it proved a false dawn as Germany were a goal to the good inside seven minutes of the Group D curtain raiser.
I guess Germany can go far. They played well against a week Australia.