In those wondrously heady moments after Oliver Neuville's late winner against Poland, the adrenalised delirium in Dortmund's Westfalenstadion quickly surged across Germany as if flicked by a switch. Before the World Cup, Jürgen Klinsmann's side had been talked down as second-raters; now they were potential world-beaters. The country dared dream.
Neuville's goal made the public into believers, but it was the bullish wins over Ecuador, Sweden and particularly Argentina that turned Germany into World Cup favourites. The match-day routine became familiar: a fast and furious display full of youthful zest; victory; then the blare of klaxons until long into the night. The optimism that washed over the country seemed capable of solving all of Germany's problems, no matter how deep.
Then, two minutes from time against Italy tonight, Fabio Grosso hooked a left-foot curler into Jens Lehmann's bottom corner before, moments later, Alessandro Del Piero twisted the knife. Suddenly the delirium dissipated, and the stadium and cities went quiet. That's the trouble with dreams. You always wake up.
But Germany shouldn't allow the hurt to linger. Throughout the World Cup they played intelligent, aggressive football, and tonight they matched a deeply impressive Italian side pass for pass, chance for chance, blow for blow. The game could have gone either way. Afterwards there were tears in the Westfalenstadion and across the country, but better this death than meek surrender.
