Don't mention the score...

Another day of World Cup 2010, and another big name on the biggest stage of all. 2006 hosts Germany returned to the World Cup with an emphatic 4-0 drubbing of Australia, a side that many fancied as runners-up in Group D. After the first brilliant performance of this year's tournament, the question is on many German lips: are Die Mannschaft good enough to go all the way?

Despite German football's illustrious past successes, history would suggest that Germany aren't destined to be champions this time around. They've not yet won the tournament as a unified nation, and Diego Maradona and Argentina's 1986 Mexico triumph aside, Brazil are the only side to win the tournament on another continent. After lifting the trophy in North America's and Asia's first hostings in 1994 and 2002 respectively, another eight years later, Brazil should be favourites to win the first African World Cup.

However if you are to believe reports, qualifying and warm-up games, Brazil's 2010 side lack flair and Maradona is one of the most incompetent coaches to manage Argentina, as demonstrated perhaps by their inability to crank up to fifth gear in Saturday's 1-0 bore against Nigeria. This is without mentioning the fact that hotly-tipped Spain have never got past the last eight, France are looking lacklustre, the African sides just aren't strong enough and if England aren't plagued by injury, the expectation of the whole country weighs the team down.

As shown yesterday, Germany have a profilic goalscorer in Miroslav Klose, already proven at two World Cups, a supporting striker who can supply or unleash a ferocious shot in Lukas Podolski, two decent playmakers in Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mesut Ozil, and top quality young players coming through, Sami Khedira, Thomas Muller and Manuel Neuer alongside the established names of Klose, Phillipp Lahm and Arne Friedrich.

Germany are certainly making a case for changing history, and this side seems to be just as strong, if not stronger than 2006's and 2002's. Whether 21st Century Germany's famous creaky defence will hold up against potent opposition is yet to be seen; though the young Germans have certainly shown so far however attack can be the best form of defence. Only time will tell whether the famous gold trophy will be heading back to Germany this summer...