Metzelder has slotted into the side smoothly (Allsport)

By Jason Hughes, PA International, Yokohama

If it wasn't for bad luck, Germany would have had no luck at all at this World Cup.

In the build-up, their team was ravaged by injuries and what slim chance they were given of doing well seemingly disappeared.

Coach Rudi Voller was forced to call on rookies like Christoph Metzelder, Torsten Frings and Bernd Schneider.

But rather than be dragged down to the level of a side that struggled through qualifying, they revitalised it.

Frings and Schneider have combined down the right side of the German team, their energy adding a new dimension to a sometimes staid outfit.

However it is at the back that Germany have been outstanding - only one goal conceded - with centre-back Metzelder displaying an assured confidence that has belied his 21 years.

"The defence has been phenomenal," said Voller.

"It has been one of our most stable elements, allowing us something to build on."

It had looked very bleak for a defence that was much maligned anyway, but to then lose its best player in Jens Nowotny seemed to signal the end.

Bayer Leverkusen's defensive rock snapped his cruciate knee ligaments in the Champions League clash against Manchester United. In addition, the experienced Christian Worns withdrew through injury and the highly-rated Marko Rehmer was only half fit entering the tournament.

"I was robbed of almost my entire backline and I was forced to play a makeshift defence," said Voller.

"But in the end it didn't affect us, the new players have been the revelation of the tournament in my opinion."

Metzelder, who only made his international debut 10 months ago, has slotted into the centre of defence to form the foundation on which Germany's hopes have been built.

With the world's best goalkeeper in Oliver Kahn behind them, memories of the 5-1 drubbing by England last September are a distant memory.

After that humiliation against their arch-rivals, they were forced to come through the play-offs against the Ukraine to even make the plane to Japan and Korea.

"It has been a long, hard road," admitted Voller.

"Whoever has accompanied me over the past two years knows it has not always been about glory.

"There was a lot of pressure just in our play-off game against the Ukraine, a lot of pressure. That could have been the end, but it wasn't and we are all happier now."

There have been many closing chapters predicted for Voller's men on their World Cup campaign.

After losing a friendly in Wales at the start of May, the German press wrote off their national side's chances for good.

During a barrage of hostile questions from German journalists in the post-match press conference, Voller steadfastly refused to budge from his thinking.

"This defeat does not matter, the World Cup is the only thing that matters," he repeated time and time again.

Now the German press are being made to eat their words, although Voller admitted to a bit of self-doubt himself.

"I am surprised by all this," he said. "If you had told me four weeks ago, I would not have believed you.

"If you had told me at half-time against Cameroon in our last group game, I would not have believed you then either."

But through injury - Sebastian Deisler and Mehmet Scholl joined the list in the run-up to the tournament - and 5-1 hammerings, Germany were forced to rethink and restock so that they timed their preparation to perfection.

While Italy and Argentina arrived in the Far East with delusions of grandeur, Germany adopted the suck-it-and-see approach to their chances.

Defender Thomas Linke said: "We have become more self-assured as the tournament has gone on, but then again Germany has always been a team for tournaments."