Bierhoff: future is bright for Germany

GERMANY general manager Oliver Bierhoff insists Wednesday night’s World Cup semi-final defeat by Spain marks the beginning, not the end, of a dream for his young team.

With the exception of stalwarts such as Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski, most of the German side that won so many admirers before they crashed out in Durban will still be around in four years’ time.

Mesut Ozil, Manuel Neuer and Thomas Muller, whose suspension on Wednesday night cost Germany their verve down the right flank, have all established themselves as stars of the future.