THEY'RE net always the easiest team to like, they're frequently the villains and they're forever the pragmatists who put out the romantics. Think of Holland in `74, France in `82 and `86 and last Wednesday, the Italians. Yet somehow it wouldn't be the same without those Germans.

They are the barometer by which every other team is judged. Germany, be it the Western half or the reunited version, have reached the final of the World Cup or the European Championships nine times. To win anything, in football, you have to beat the Germans.

Even average German sides reach the final, even good German sides playing poorly are the toughest to beat, their resilience which withstood an impassioned Italian performance underlining the point yet again.

And, of course, as countless comebacks over the years have demonstrated, the Germans are never beaten until the Fat Lady has cleared her larynx and has at least reached the chorus.

Mentally, they are the strongest side in the world. You will always get a certain level of performance from the Germans which cannot be consistently guaranteed from any other country in the world, Brazil included. Physically too, they are the strongest. The out-of-touch Thomas Hassler (likely to be replaced by Mehmet Scholl tomorrow) was their only player under six foot at Old Trafford last Wednesday.

The Germans hold together as only they can. In hindsight, clearcut chances for the Italians were actually at a premium. As the old football saying goes, Germany kept their shape, and this shape has been pretty much the same for over two decades.

Ever since Franz Beckenbauer switched from midfield to libero, the Germans have always played a converted midfield playmaker at sweeper with the ball-carrying ability and passing to initiate contribute to, or even finish attacks.

In Borussia Dortmund's 28-year-old Matthias Sammer they have probably the best converted libero since Beckenbauer, certainly stronger in the air and a superior timer of tackles than Lothar Matthaeus was.

Then there are the man-markers, the wing-backs, the three midfielders and always always, two strikers where others are too cautious to play more than one.

There have been some greats there too, but surely there has been none better than Juergen Klinsmann; none better in the world most probably. He is a deep intelligent thinker about the game who, at 31, keeps getting better. A supreme athlete, with a superb first touch no matter what direction the ball comes to him Klinsmann also possesses that distinctive gazelle-like running stride and ability to hang in the air.

Somehow the Euro `96 trophy appears destined to, be lifted bye the great man. This is home from home. He is at ease in England London especially. Invariably it was Klinsmann who was wheeled out for post-match reaction in English after the Old Trafford denouement to group C.

"I think it is a big pity that Italy are now out of the Championship," said Klinsmann. It seemed hard to tally with such an obvious determination to deny Italy the goal which would have earned them qualification (Klinsmann being the last man back with a tolerance from inside his own six yard area near the end).

Yet this was merely indicative of an essentially honest approach to the game, and Klinsmann's sympathy was not false. "They are a team full of class players and they were very unlucky against us - but that's how football is sometimes.

"I can't think of another game where we have been put under so much pressure. The Italians showed us how to play an effective pressing game and both their rhythm and pace were very impressive."

No one, ironically, epitomised German's appetite for the challenge and defensive resilience more than Klinsmann, as Berti Vogts acknowledged. "He is the best forward we have, and we have seen in the last year how important he is to our system," said Berti Vogts.

"He is vital to our chances to us and leads our team from the front. He takes the initiative - he's the man in command. Defensive behaviour in the German team starts up front, and Juergen runs all over the place and carries my system on to the pitch."

As the only German manager yet to preside over a World Cup or a European championship-winning team, Vogts (the son of a shoemaker who was raised by his aunt after the death of his parents) bears the intense pressure on him with a certain equanimity.

"I can do nothing right any more. If I walked on water, my accusers would say it is because I can't swim," he lamented before the tournament.

However, it is clear that the Euro `92 final defeat to Denmark and the shock USA `94 quarter-final loss to Bulgaria has imbued Vogts and his experienced side with an inner determination to atone this month.

The surprisingly incoherent display against Italy also afforded him an opportunity to bring the German media and public down to earth after opening wins over the Czech Republic and Russia which cemented their status as favourites.

"We have a lot to learn - and that match was a hint that we are far from being a really good team.

"That is something we can build on - but we have to play, better football. We gave away too many misdirected passes offering the opponents the chance to counter-attack and this is something we have to eliminate."

Ironically, next up comes another erstwhile ally of sorts from WW II, Croatia. During the period 1940-1944 the puppet regime in the Balkan country was only permitted to play internationals against opponents approved by Nazi Germany. The latter won all three contests during that period.

For all Croatia's rediscovered nationalism, burning pride and undoubted ability, the odds must favour a fourth win. For starters the Croatian coach Miroslav Blazevic was surely guilty of a Sacchi type miscalculation when resting seven of his first choice side in the defeat to Portugal.

Blajevic has since reasserted his claim that Vogts's team were his favoured last-eight oppositions because the German style of play suits them better than any other. But aside from the potential damage to morale caused by a 3-0 defeat, will come the players' realisation that they are now facing the strongest team in the last eight when they could have been playing the weakest (the Czechs).

Then again, to win a tournament eventually there's no avoiding the Germans and if any team has the capacity to cause a surprise it's probably the Croats.

With all their key players, Zvonimir Boban, Davor Suker, Aljosa Asanovic, lgor Stimac and Alen Boksic back in harness for tomorrow's clash at Old Trafford, Blazevic states: "We've got the best players in the tournament and we are going to win the championships."

No such bullish predictions can be expected from Vogts, concerned particularly by a depleted defence. Thomas Helmer, Stefan Reuter and Rene Schneider are all injury doubts, Thomas Strunz is suspended while Juergen Kohler and Mario Basler are out of the tournament.

"They (Croatia) heat Italy in the qualifying competition and in terms of individual flair they are a good side. I was impressed with the way they fought through their group. As far as I am concerned they remain the secret favourites for the competition, but they will meet a German team which is keen to remain in the running," Vogts concluded.

It was ever thus. Put it this way. If the Germans don't win Euro `96, then whoever beats them probably will.