IF anyone was in a perfect position to foresee Germany's World Cup triumph, it was Michael Mancienne.
He would not have needed a crystal ball to predict it.
The newly signed Nottingham Forest defender was well placed to predict what was coming five years ago.
And, by the time this summer rolled around, he was absolutely certain of the credentials of Joachim Low's side.
Back in 2009, Mancienne was part of the England side who were crushed; steamrollered in the final of the European under-21 Championships, by the German machine.
Stuart Pearce's side had looked strong as they plotted a steady course through the competition.
But they were no match for Germany, who cruised to a 4-0 success, with Mancienne – after coming off the bench at half time – helpless to stem the tide.
Led by Mesut Ozil, who set up two and scored another, Germany were close to unstoppable.
Five years later, six of the players who had started that final in Sweden – including Ozil – were an integral part of the German World Cup squad in Brazil.
And, having spent the last three years plying his trade in the Bundesliga, with Hamburg, Mancienne had come toe-to-toe with many of the international side on a weekly basis.
"I was not surprised to see the Germans do so well, with the team that they had," said Mancienne, who has signed a three-year contract, with the option of a further year, with the Reds, following a transfer for a fee of around £1m.
"It was the same team that beat us in the final of the European Championships back in 2009.
"Seven or eight of their players in the side that day have gone on to challenge for a place in the senior squad. Six were in the side that went on to win the World Cup.
"It was a good team back then. But I have obviously seen them playing for the last three years and realised how good German football is."
Mancienne believes the strength of the German side perhaps went under the radar a little on English soil, with many of the squad plying their trade in the Bundesliga.
But he is convinced the main catalyst for the country's success was the simple fact that a large core of the side had been together for so long.
This was a Germany team that had been playing together for years; who knew each other inside out and operated as a unit.
"They do have very good players, which you perhaps don't see as much in England, where there is more focus on the Premier League," added Mancienne.
"I knew they would go far. I did not know they would win it – but I would have said before the start that they would go far.
"The fact is that most of that German side have been playing together for years now, as a side. It is not a surprise that they succeeded, because they are a team.
"That is why they are so good."
England, in contrast, had only one member of that under-21 squad, beaten by Germany in that final, among the group that travelled to Brazil this summer, in the form of James Milner.
Theo Walcott would have made it too, had he not been injured. But there has not been the same progression among the England squad, as a team, as Germany have enjoyed.
Mancienne, however, has not given up on his own ambitions of collecting his first senior England cap and hopes that helping Forest back into the top flight could be the first step towards achieving exactly that.
His initial goal will be to acclimatise himself back in English football, although he doesn't anticipate having any issues with this.
"I don't think I will. I have played so many games over here in the past, it will not be an issue," said Mancienne.
"Even if it does take me a few games, it will only be that.
"I will find my feet pretty much straight away, I think.
"Is German football different? Yes and no. You have the top teams, who are always hard to play against.
"But the thing in Germany is that every side runs a lot. They are machines. You saw it in the World Cup. Players go for 90 minutes.
"Every single team also try to play good football. Even the lowest teams, no matter how bad they might be – they always try to play good football.
"Every team tries to play football. That is the standout thing for me about German football.
"They are incredibly fit, but they also like to play football."
Mancienne believes his own German experience was invaluable, when it came to helping him mature as a player.
"It was a great experience for me. I was happy that I did it and got it under my belt, because not many players have done it," he said.
"You see a lot of foreign players coming into the English game, but not too many going the other way.
"It is a lot harder for an English person to go and play abroad, because there is the language barrier and you have not got your friends or your family there.
"Lots of people would not be tempted by it. But I saw it as being a great opportunity.
"I know a football career can be short, but I wanted to go and do it."
Now Mancienne's task is to follow in those German footsteps, by bringing some long-awaited success to Nottingham Forest.
