As if the power and durability did not suffice, Germany frequently employ their reputation to beat rivals into submission. They and Croatia each won their opening fixture at Euro 2008, but the resemblance ends there. It is the smaller nation that has to muster its confidence following a weary 1-0 victory of the inept co-hosts Austria. Joachim Loew's side, on the other hand, dealt firmly with Poland.
It is Croatia who have to regroup. Luka Modric, who will be turning out for Tottenham next season after an £15.8m move from Dinamo Zagreb, must have been the topic of prolonged debate since he is smaller than most of the players who must deal with the battering dished out by Premier League battles. We will learn soon enough if his muscles are in shape, but his self-confidence looks nicely toned already. It does not concern him that the Croatia Slaven Bilic thinks he should show himself to be the best player at this tournament.
Modric seems stress-free. That was to be witnessed when he converted the penalty against Austria by cracking the ball down the middle as Jurgen Macho dived to his right. Modric was understandably incredulous when someone suggested the method had actually been an accident. While the playmaker waned along with his team-mates after 25 minutes in Vienna, he had already shown off his skills.
Modric also had the excuse of a hamstring knock in that match and missed training on Monday as a precautionary measure. His self-belief is intact. Asked whether he was turning into one of the elite players, Modric replied: "No, I don't feel like a rising star," he said. "I feel like I'm already there." Bilic would have beamed. He has more need to instil confidence in the squad than knock it out of them.
Perhaps recordings of Modric could be played to the rest of the players while they are asleep. "I love the big challenges and I play better when under pressure," the 22-year-old said. "The match against Germany is exactly what I like. We have a lot of self-confidence, and despite the poor second half against Austria, I'm convinced that we can do well against Germany."
Modric is expected to set the tone. "He can play anywhere in the midfield, up front or more defensively," Bilic said, defending his decision to play Modric in a conservative role against Austria. "He's our best player. Without him we would be half of what we are. I told him that I expect him to be the best player at the tournament, not to put more weight on his shoulders, but because I mean it. Modric is a calm player and very mature for his age. That's why he's our penalty taker. "
All this, admittedly, could be bravado. Germany would see no need to make claims for themselves. The control with which they beat Poland, where two goals from Lukas Podolski addressed criticisms that the side was too dependent on Miroslav Klose, was ominous. Precisely as Germany intended.
