Die Mannschaft are making a strong case that this is their year. Germany have made it two wins from two, beating the fourth and tenth best teams in the world, according to Fifa's rankings. The team is almost certain to top Group B (the Group of Death), and in beating top opposition have shown they are well on their way to avenging their defeat in the 2008 final and going all the way.
The Germans have been clinical in their passing, determined in their defending, and - in the case of Mario Gomez - pinpoint accurate in their finishing. While Germany were frustrated for most of their first match against the Portuguese, they took their chance when it came, as they did against fellow pre-tournament contenders the Netherlands in their second match.
Germany found their attacking verve after 24 minutes when Bastien Schweinsteiger slid a ball through to Gomez, whose perfect first touch, turn and strike show why many have him down for the Golden Boot. His second was just as good, firing the ball past Maarten Stekelenburg from a tricky angle 14 minutes later, although the Dutch keeper should have dealt with the shot better.
While Schweinsteiger was not at his best against the Portuguese in the team's first match, he came into his own against the Dutch. The Bayern Munich midfielder was at the centre of Germany's attack, playing the final ball to his club teammate Gomez for both goals, and also made strong tackles and fought hard for the 50-50 balls in the middle of the park. Others have correctly said that Schweinsteiger would walk into any team in this tournament, including Spain with its star-studded midfield. The 27-year-old is something of the veteran in Germany's talented midfield, playing alongside the likes of Toni Kroos (22), Real Madrid's Mesut Ozil (23) and Sami Khedira (25).
In defence, Germany is characteristically strong, and frustrated both the Portuguese and Dutch forwards. Germany's determined defence was exemplified by Jerome Boateng throwing his body in front of a Wesley Sniejder rocket just as Holland were looking likely for an equaliser in the second half. When the Dutch did score, it was to a brilliant Robin Van Persie strike from the edge of the box, which was fired between the legs of Holger Badstuber and gave goalkeeper Manual Neuer little chance.