If this were still new to me I wouldn't understand

When Germany was first invented, more that 500 years ago, it was designed as a prison for the dangerously evil and a hospital for the mentality unfeasible. Due to an administrative error, all the inmates were released at once and a new country was born.

The inhabitants of this new land would be knows as Germ men (or Germans) to distinguish them from humans and remind them of their shame.

Fast-forward to 2010 and modern day Germany is a thriving hotbed of multiculturalism, almost completely freed from its hideous history. And nowhere better to display this than the German National Football Team. Gone are the days where the Germany squad would be made up of 23 blonde-haired blue-eyed big-faced boys named Dieter, Joachim Löw has selected players from all different backgrounds; Turkish, Polish, Spanish, Nigerian, Ghanaian, Yugoslavian and a Brazillian. He even selected 3 black players. That's how progressive Germany is these days.

But can all these different boys play together? Particularly with their talismanic German-born captain Michael Ballack missing the tournament through injury. Well they absolutely thrashed 10-man Australia with easily the best performance of the tournament so far. Polish-born pair Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose giving them a 2-0 lead before the half-time. The Australians had given up playing football by now and devoted their efforts to kicking lumps out of the Germans - an approach which might have been applauded with quiet envy under the old regimes, but this is new Germany - let's give them a chance. Inevitably Australia's Tim Cahill was sent off before talented Turk Mezut Ozil set up German Muller for a 3rd. There will still time for Germany to bring on their new signing, Brazillian-born Cacau fresh from the passport office in time to score a 4th.

So what to make of this new Germany? Can we forget the crimes of the past? No. Can we forgive? No. But it's certainly a start. A very good, very surprising start.