Two great individual goals from Bastian Schweinsteiger and an own goal from Armando Petit saw Germany net the consolation of third prize.

While the win could not make amends for the shattering 2-0 semifinals defeat to Italy it capped off Germany's tournament in style and the German media hailed their heroes.

"You are our world champions," headlined Bild am Sonntag. "Third place - but with all respect to France and Italy it is we who feel like the world champions."

"Germany have played the most attractive football in the tournament and scored the most goals.

"The only thing we want to hear now is the yes word from (Juergen) Klinsmann."

Germany manager Juergen Klinsmann, a World Cup winner with West Germany in 1990, has yet to decide whether he will stay on as national coach saying he needed some time to gather his thoughts.

"So much has happened in the last few weeks and I haven't taken it all on board yet. Give me a few days," Klinsmann pleaded.

"I am overwhelmed by emotion at the moment and need to process things in my mind before making a decision."

After a rocky start the German press have taken to Klinsmann and his attacking brand of football has left its mark.

"The people's champions," declared the Frankfurter Allgemeine. "A perfect way to sign off. We may not have become champions but our performances are that of world champions."

Germany captain Michael Ballack, who missed the Portugal win through injury, said the players would do their all to convince Klinsmann to stay on.

"We will talk to the coach individually and try to convince him to stay - if he has not yet decided," explained Ballack.

While Klinsmann's future is uncertain that of goalkeeper Oliver Kahn's is now clear after he announced his retirement from international football after the Portugal triumph.

"The atmosphere was incredible and you wonder what it would have been like had we become world champions," Kahn said.

"It was one of the most emotional, if not the most emotional, moments I can remember."

The 37-year-old Kahn won 86 caps for his country but played understudy to Jens Lehmann at the finals.

It was the type of bold decision that had the critics sharpening their knives for Klinsmann but in the end the Euro 96 victor came out trumps.

With attacking flair alien to previous German teams Klinsmann delivered eye catching football for the home fans as they surged into the semi-finals before running out of steam against Italy.