The World Cup title for Joachim Loew and his "golden generation" crowned a process that was 10 years in the making.

With a talented crop of new players coming through, the future looks bright for Germany.

Sunday's 1-0 victory over Argentina at Maracana Stadium gave Germany its fourth title and made it the first European team to win the championship on South American soil. It also completed a circle for Loew that began in 2004, when he became Juergen Klinsmann's assistant.