You don't often hear football fans praising the police, but it has been one of the recurring themes among England supporters in the three World Cup cities they have watched matches in so far.
The German policing operation has been friendly, fair-minded and tolerant - and last night it was sophisticated enough to thwart attempts by German hooligans to provoke serious trouble in Cologne.
Fresh thanks are required after a large-scale intelligence operation by German police spotters resulted in the arrest of about 50 known local football hooligans - they were held in preventive detention, while England supporters celebrated the 2-2 draw against Sweden and the fact that Ecuador, not Germany, were to be the country's next opponents.
Klaus Steffenhagen, Cologne's police president, said: "We received intelligence during the day that there were several small groups of German hooligans who were on their way to Cologne to cause trouble, especially to attack England fans."
Eighteen Germans were detained in the Alter Markt, a popular square in the old city, which was the scene of a fracas involving England fans the night before. Seven were arrested in cities around Cologne.
It had always been the fear of the British police, working alongside the German authorities, that England fans would be targeted by local troublemakers. Cologne's skilful intelligence operation appeared to have effectively nipped that in the bud.
Stephen Thomas, the Assistant Chief Constable from Greater Manchester police, who is in charge of the British policing operation, has repeatedly praised the softly-softly tactics and professionalism of his opposite numbers.
This week, as he commended the behaviour of the vast majority of England fans, he also said popular areas of Cologne felt much safer than some parts of Manchester city centre, where he normally works.
Another vignette from Cologne - this time about 1.30am on Wednesday, near the Hohenzollernbrucke, as weary and unsteady England fans began to make their way back to their beds. "Goodnight, mate," said one slightly inebriated fan to a police officer watching from his van. "Have a good night," came back the reply. Dixon of Dock Green would have been proud.
