Danke [English translation]

All we've got left to do is say 'thanks' to you,

Because you've achieved great things these last few days,

And the sceptics fell silent after only a few hours

You fought your way to the top, for you were at the bottom

And those who fight like you did are allowed to lose sometimes

People love you, that will motivate you

And in hindsight, see what you've all achieved

You've kept the whole country on the edge, emotionally

This fourth of July wasn't a bad day,

This fourth of July just wasn't your best day

Man, you've beaten Argentina after a long game

New game, new luck, for this life has much to offer

You'v given us so much, your names shall be heard

Let us write you a song and sing your names

We salute our captain Michael Ballack,

You shot amazingly in spite of the pain

You fought hard, kicked the penalty in

When I saw your tears, mine also started flowing

The name of the next German hero is Torsten Frings

He plays in the midfield, and we know he gets far

He had been chosen, he was counted out

Man, we were shocked, we've missed you Torsten

Then the superb Miro Klose, always there for a quick goal

He twirls around like a tornado

We only so rarely comme across people like you

First name: Lukas - Nickname: Poldi

Believe me Lukas, we really had a great time watching you

Bravely battle on, give us the chance to lose our minds

When you score again

It's such a shame, Jens Lehmann,

That we could see you so little at home

You didn't disappoint us, but made us quiver

We were worried, you were composed

Your strength really lies in your calm attitude

You opened the door leading to our hearts1

Before the blue eyes came the broken arm,

But Germany's first goal was scored by Philipp Lahm

Seeing you play was a revelation

Philipp, never will we forget your name

Here comes that Bastian Schweinsteiger,

Even when he falls, he keeps playing the ball

Who could ever stop you, now it's on - Take over the game and simply leave your opponent standing there

And we can't forget Per Mertesacker

You turned many a defender into movers

You did your job and were thus immortalized

Quite a few opponents must tell themselves, He is a mother-

Christoph Metzelder was the fire alarm

And fire extinguisher of the football field

The opponent comes, the opponent is stopped

Strikers are like trees to him, and trees, he cuts them down

Sebastian Kehl was also chosen

And was right away animated by the battle

He gave his best and made his thing,

And his name will we also sing from now on

We wished so much that Bernd Schneider

Would score that one goal, but unfortunately he didn't

But head up high, Bernd, we like you more than a bit

Sparks were flying when you played, you're a great guy

And Arne Friedrich seemed too friendly to us at first,

But then he was born again, and we finally saw it,

The door before the goal closes itself

Arne Friedrich, Germany loves you

Hey ho, David Odonkor, run light lightning to the goal,

Play your pass and prepare another goal like that one

People said Who's that David, no one knows him,

Now the whole country would like to be part of your family

You were on the German bench, Tim Borowski

The opponents want to win, but you shock them

We want to see you play and be victorious with you again

When the pump almost stops, you make it beat like crazy

And Robert Huth also came along nicely

And did what a nice man does on the pitch

He put himself forward and we saw his courage

Then back on the bench, Robert, I tip you my hat

Mike Hanke, you also deserve to be thanked

The life of a striker is never easy on the bench

I also have jersey, of course with the number 9

And next time, you will rejoice us with your goals

The future also belongs to Marcell Jansen

I already see the strikers showing up near you

Steal them their occasions and their courage,

And do what the men in our defensive do

And had strikers stood before Jens Nowotny,

Jens, he would have stopped and expelled them

I want to thank you for your emergency service,

You've burned for the game and reach the goal

And Thomas Hitzlsperger was also often spared the pitch's sorrows, but you also deserve thanks from the sidelines

Had our midfield staggered, we would have taken you,

And then you would have raced to the goal despite the late start

It's almost madness to have seen Oliver Kahn

Standing not in goal, but on the sidelines

But thank you Olli, you really are a master,

You've done uncountable things for both country and team

Timo Hildebrandt only sat on the sidelines,

But be prepared, the time will soon come

When this country shouts your name

During the penalty shoot-outs

Oliver Neuville, our trump card for the game,

Scored an important goal at the right moment

Penalty in, what a gift

Of course, we will forever think of us

I sincerely thank you, DJ Asamoah

Thanks to you, my songs played in the changing room

DJ and strike, we want more

Gerald Asamoah, score your next goal now

And thanks to Jürgen Klinsmann's great vision,

We still dreamed of victory and had it already

We raise you again, onto the football throne

Please don't leave now, we will pay you twice as much

You are bearers of dignity, Andy, Olli, Jogi, Jürgen

We'd like burden you some more,

You and your assistants,

So stay with us, the European Championship is at our door

For in the end, you almost led us to victory already

Thank you for that, we were deeply touched

I thank those men for everything, honour where honour is due

1. 'Tor' means both 'door' and 'goal'.

• Artist:Xavier Naidoo
• Album:Telegramm für X (2005)