Germany's newspapers could scarcely hide their glee yesterday after their team's 4-0 rout of Argentina sent them into the semi-finals and got the whole nation dreaming of a fourth World Cup triumph.

"1954, 1974, 1990..." ran the headline on yesterday's Tagesspiegel daily, the dates of Germany's three previous World Cup wins, the paper hoping 2010 would soon be added to the list.

"Thank you, you heroes," screamed the Bild am Sonntag on its front page, with pictures of Argentina coach Diego Maradona "snivelling" and Chancellor Angela Merkel cheering her team on from the stands.

"1-0 Mueller, 2-0 Klose, 3-0 Friedrich, 4-0 Klose. Yes, you are our heroes. Yes, we'll never forget you. Yes, we're in the semi-finals," added the paper.

"Unbelievable, incredible. You just can't put it into words. The football god is smiling on Germany. We beat Argentina 4-0, we're in the World Cup semi-final and we're playing the most beautiful football in the whole world."

The Berliner Kurier told its readers: "Call your sons Jogi", referring to German coach Joachim Loew. "The sweetest win of all time.

"How come no one has come up to us yet and shouted 'Wake up, eyes open, it was all a dream?"

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