So now can we write off the Germans?
Some thought the 20-1 offered for them to win Euro 2004 was too good to miss for the most successful team in the history of the European Championship.
It wasn't.
Okay, they may have been a little unfortunate in the end to have been ousted after losing a game against the Czech Republic that they really should have won comfortably.
Yet despite being in the so-called 'Group of Death' and despite never being behind from the start of qualifying to the 77th minute of their third Group D game, the simple truth is that the Germans - like the Italians before them - are just not good enough.
They will travel home having failed to win in Portugal and with just two goals to their name - both scored by midfielders in Torsten Frings and Michael Ballack.
And for all the credit heaped upon Latvia after their 'brave' displays against the Czechs and Germany, Holland showed how weak a side they actually are.
This was a Latvian side that held a toothless German side to a 0-0 draw earlier in the tournament.
And therein lies the problem.
While the Germans were able to raise their game when it really mattered - they could have scored four times against the Czechs after half-time - the quality and desire was sadly lacking when the chips weren't down.
At the back they looked solid as a rock with their 'holy trinity' of goalkeeper Oliver Kahn and central defenders Christian Worns and Jens Nowotny outstanding.
But other than the impressive Ballack and 20-year-old Philipp Lahm, there were few other bright spots for Germany and their under-pressure coach Rudi Voller.
Kevin Kuranyi was one of the most anonymous forwards in the tournament, Bernd Schneider missed chance after chance and even Bastian Schweinsteiger was dragged down into mediocrity against the Czechs.
Voller will now surely lose his job with Ottmar Hitzfeld probably the leading candidate to replace him, and his first job must be to answer the goalscoring problems that have plagued the Germans in Portugal.
Ruud van Nistelrooy has ensured Holland have no such worries as they prepare for their quarter-final clash with Sweden.
The Manchester United man netted twice in the 3-0 defeat of Latvia and suddenly things look good for a Dutch squad that had previously looked at odds with the world.
Yet amidst all the post-mortems following Germany's early elimination and all the partying after Holland progressed, let us not ignore the Czech Republic.
They are the only team to have reached the last eight with a 100% record, have netted seven times in their three games and even managed to beat Germany with their reserves.
With three goals to his name, Milan Baros is looking at home on the biggest stage of all and with the likes of Pavel Nedved supplying the ammunition it is little wonder.
So as the Germans and Latvia head home, the Czechs and Holland press on. They have survived the 'Group of Death'.
Now anything is possible.
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