Just a few hours later that same day, Germany rewrote their own record books with an 8-0 trouncing of hapless Saudi Arabia, their biggest winning margin in a World Cup match.

Miroslav Klose started the rout before going on to complete the third hat-trick of his international career and taking his remarkable tally to 11 goals in 13 matches for Germany.

Klose still has a considerable road to tread if he is to come close to emulating the astonishing pedigree of the legendary Muller, nicknamed ‘Der Bomber’, who scored 68 goals in 62 games.

But there is already speculation as to whether he can at least equal or beat the record for most goals scored by a German player in the World Cup finals - Muller’s 10 in 1970 in Mexico - and more than likely win the tournament’s Golden Boot.

For the 23-year-old Kaiserslautern striker, the early comparisons with Muller are probably unfair due to the unnecessary pressure it creates, but Ireland will have to be wary of the Polish-born rising star.

‘‘Miro always sweats blood for us and he always throws himself into the fray,’’ said coach Rudi Voller of Klose’s never-say-die attitude before pouring scorn on his hopes of approaching Muller’s incredible record.

Voller added in Frankfurter Allgemeine: ‘‘Gerd Muller’s scoring rate will never be equalled. I know because I tried myself in my playing days, and I failed.’’

But both German Football Federation president Franz Beckenbauer and former Spurs star Jurgen Klinsmann, himself a prolific scorer for his clubs and country, were more forthcoming in their praise for Klose.

‘‘He’s an incredible jumper, much like Uwe Seeler in his day,’’ commented Beckenbauer after watching Klose score all three goals against the Saudis with his head.

‘‘While 11 goals in 13 games for Germany - that is something which comes close to Gerd Muller’s record.’’

Klinsmann also believes in Klose’s ability as he said: ‘‘He has everything a top striker needs.’’

Wounds from the Germany’s recent traumatic history appear to have healed and harmony now rules but the triple world champions are keen to keep a low profile.

"It was a great performance but we see no reason to revise our expectations," German Football Association president Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder said yesterday, making clear that reaching the knock-out stage remained the minimum target.

"We have to keep focused and take it one match at a time," said defensive midfielder Jens Jeremies, who can testify that the climate is far more serene than it was at the previous World Cup, not to mention Euro 2000.

"There is no star in the team and we all realise that only if we stand closely together can we achieve something," he said. "It has been the case so far and I’m confident it will stay that way."