In a European Championship high on excitement but low on truly outstanding teams, one nation stands out. Germany, it seems, have established themselves as worthy favourites to lift the trophy here a week on Sunday and perhaps we should not be surprised.

Though they were a very modest side in reaching the last four of the 2006 World Cup on home soil, by South Africa 2010 Germany had evolved into a much more inventive and enterprising outfit.

Now that evolution has continued to the extent that Joachim Low’s team have already shown themselves to be the most exciting German side since the one that won this competition in England in 1996.

The team to beat: German players applaud the fans after clinching victory over Denmark

Anyone who has watched them play here will tell you this is a German team with a twist. They carry the traditional characteristics. Superbly athletic, rigidly disciplined and apparent strangers to mental weakness, Low’s team will simply stare you down if that is what it takes.

Nevertheless, the beauty of this group lies in their sense of adventure and expression and the freedom of their football. This — in recent years at least — has been rare and it is clear the modern Germany is benefiting from the continuity and long-term vision that was deemed necessary after a disastrous Euro 2004 campaign in Portugal.

Low himself was part of Jurgen Klinsmann’s coaching staff in the 2006 World Cup while eight of the team that dismantled England in the last 16 in South Africa two years ago can expect to start against Greece in their quarter-final in Gdansk.

In short, Germany have been building towards this moment for some time. There is surely a lesson there for everybody, not just England. Just as it has benefited world and European champions Spain over the last four years, simple forward planning has delivered a terrific German team.

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