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World Cup: Germany welcomes conquering heroes home World Cup: Germany welcomes conquering heroes home
(35 minutes later)
Tens of thousands of German football fans are giving a hero's welcome to the World Cup-winning team in Berlin.Tens of thousands of German football fans are giving a hero's welcome to the World Cup-winning team in Berlin.
The main celebrations are at the Brandenburg Gate, where players displayed the cup on a large stage while performing an impromptu dance. The main celebrations were at the Brandenburg Gate, where players displayed the cup on a large stage while performing an impromptu dance.
Many had gathered since dawn to welcome the players who touched down from Brazil on Tuesday morning. Huge crowds lined their bus route into the capital.Many had gathered since dawn to welcome the players who touched down from Brazil on Tuesday morning. Huge crowds lined their bus route into the capital.
It was the fourth German cup win and the first since reunification in 1990.It was the fourth German cup win and the first since reunification in 1990.
Berlin transformedBerlin transformed
The team's 1-0 victory over Argentina in Sunday's final sparked delirious scenes across Germany which are culminating in Tuesday's celebrations in the centre of Berlin as the team arrived in an open-top bus emblazoned with the years they have won the competition - 1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014. The team's 1-0 victory over Argentina in Sunday's final sparked delirious scenes across Germany. which are culminating in Tuesday's celebrations in centralBerlin.
The BBC's Lucy Hockings in Berlin says there is a carnival atmosphere in the city, with thousands taking the day off to witness the spectacle even though Tuesday is not officially a holiday. The team arrived in an open-top bus emblazoned with the years they have won the competition - 1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014.
Earlier fans gathered on a viewing stage at Tegel airport to witness the arrival of the plane, a Lufthansa jet rebranded "Fanhansa" for the team. The BBC's Lucy Hockings in Berlin says there was a carnival atmosphere in the city, with thousands taking the day off to witness the spectacle even though Tuesday is not officially a holiday.
"This is a historic event," 34-year-old bus driver Bernd Hesse told the AFP news agency. Speaking on the stage near the Brandenburg Gate, coach Joachim Loew paid tribute to his team and the German people for their part in its victory.
"For our sakes the fans suffered with us. They were nervous with us. In the end they cheered with us. Without you we would not be here," he said.
Mario Goetz, the man who scored the winning goal on Sunday, said the experience of winning the cup was "dreamlike".
Earlier fans gathered on a viewing stage at Tegel airport to witness the arrival of the plane, a Lufthansa jet rebranded "Fanhansa" for the team.
"This is a historic event," 34-year-old supporter Bernd Hesse told AFP news agency.
He said that fans of the team had waited 24 years for a German World Cup victory.He said that fans of the team had waited 24 years for a German World Cup victory.
"It's not every day that you get to see something like this," Mr Hesse said.
Those members of the team that play for Bayern Munich will also get a separate welcome parade in Munich later.Those members of the team that play for Bayern Munich will also get a separate welcome parade in Munich later.
The BBC's Steve Evans in Berlin says that the city has been transformed for the arrival, with the old sponsors' logos for the tournament torn down and new ones for the home-coming put up. The BBC's Steve Evans in Berlin says that the was transformed for the arrival, with the old sponsors' logos for the tournament torn down and new ones for the home-coming put up.
Commercial opportunities are being maximised, our correspondent says. Commercial opportunities were maximised, our correspondent says.
It is not clear if Chancellor Angela Merkel will appear during the celebrations. She was photographed with the team shortly after the final whistle at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
The German victory in Brazil was the first time the competition had been won in South America by a European nation.The German victory in Brazil was the first time the competition had been won in South America by a European nation.