2010 Germany Home – Thomas Muller #13 Small

The 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa marked the rebirth of Germany’s national team as a modern, attacking force. Managed by Joachim Löw, Germany arrived with one of the youngest squads in the tournament, blending tactical discipline with fearless attacking football. Few expected them to dominate stylistically — yet Germany became one of the competition’s most exciting teams.

Drawn into Group D with Australia, Serbia, and Ghana, Germany opened their campaign with a stunning 4–0 victory over Australia, immediately announcing themselves as contenders. A surprise 1–0 loss to Serbia followed, before a composed 1–0 win over Ghana secured qualification. From the knockout stage onward, Germany were ruthless.

In the Round of 16, they dismantled England 4–1, in a match remembered for Frank Lampard’s disallowed goal and Germany’s devastating counterattacks. The quarter-final saw an even more emphatic 4–0 win over Argentina, one of the most tactically dominant performances in World Cup history. Germany’s run ended in the semi-finals, where they lost 1–0 to Spain, before defeating Uruguay 3–2 in the third-place playoff to finish third overall.

The 2010 Germany home kit, produced by Adidas, became instantly iconic. It featured a classic white base, a bold black chest band, and subtle red and gold accents representing the national flag. Minimalist yet powerful, the design echoed the shirts worn by past German greats while symbolizing a new, youthful era — a kit now inseparable from Germany’s attacking resurgence in 2010.

2. Player’s Impact – Thomas Müller

The 2010 World Cup was the global breakthrough of Thomas Müller, who entered the tournament as a relatively unknown 20-year-old from Bayern Munich and left it as one of world football’s most talked-about players. Deployed primarily as a right-sided attacking midfielder in Löw’s fluid 4-2-3-1 system, Müller redefined the role with intelligence, movement, and relentless efficiency.

Müller finished the tournament with 5 goals and 3 assists, winning the Golden Boot (via tiebreaker) and the Best Young Player Award. He scored in Germany’s opening match against Australia, netted twice against England in the Round of 16, added another in the quarter-final demolition of Argentina, and consistently provided decisive final passes throughout the competition.

Rather than relying on flair or pace, Müller’s impact came from his extraordinary spatial awareness, timing, and off-the-ball intelligence — the foundations of what would later be known as his Raumdeuter (“interpreter of space”) role. He constantly arrived in dangerous positions unmarked, exploited defensive gaps, and linked seamlessly with Mesut Özil, Miroslav Klose, and Lukas Podolski.

This tournament didn’t just introduce Müller — it redefined Germany’s attacking identity. His performances symbolized the shift from rigid efficiency to intelligent, expressive football. The 2010 World Cup laid the foundation for Müller’s legendary international career and Germany’s eventual 2014 World Cup triumph.

3. Full Squad List (Germany – 2010 World Cup, South Africa)

Manager: Joachim Löw

Goalkeepers:
Manuel Neuer, Tim Wiese, Hans-Jörg Butt

Defenders:
Philipp Lahm (captain), Per Mertesacker, Arne Friedrich, Jerome Boateng, Holger Badstuber, Dennis Aogo, Serdar Tasci

Midfielders:
Bastian Schweinsteiger, Sami Khedira, Mesut Özil, Toni Kroos, Thomas Müller, Piotr Trochowski, Marko Marin

Forwards:
Miroslav Klose, Lukas Podolski, Mario Gómez, Cacau