Germany coach Joachim Loew on Monday hailed the young German footballers discovered during the 2006 World Cup as the dawn of a new golden age for the national side.

Germany finished third in the World Cup on home soil thanks to young players including Bayern Munich trio Philip Lahm, 23, Bastian Schweinsteiger, 22 and Lukas Podolski, 21, and Werder Bremen defender Per Mertesacker, 22.

And Loew, who took over from Juergen Klinsmann after the World Cup, believes that these are the players who could take Germany to their fourth World Cup title in 2010.

"With young players like Lahm, Schweinsteiger, Podolski, Mertesacker, we have for the coming years the equivalent of a golden generation," said Loew.

"These players have progressed

considerably during the year -- they have matured physically, tactically and technically, but they have still not achieved their true potential and development.

"I believe that with them and all the young players who can enter into our philosophy of play we have some of our best years ahead of us."

First up will be the European championship in two years time.

Loew pointed out that in 2006 Germany won 13 of 18 matches and achieved their best start to a qualifying campaign for an international tournament by winning their first three matches. They are joint leaders in their Euro2008 qualifying Group D with the Czech Republic.

German team general manager Oliver Bierhoff added: "2006 allowed Germany to rediscover their national team -- the Nationalmannschaft is once again the cherished child of Germany.

"Germans identify with this young team, friendly, smiling and ambitious."