The word "Germans" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a noun and it refers to the people who are from Germany or who are of German descent. For example, "The Germans have a rich cultural history."
Polish farmers, who before accession were tearing their shirts and warning that the evil Germans and French would buy up Polish land for nothing, are emerging as the biggest beneficiaries of the EU.
Its roots are in the second world war and the mutual loathing of both teams and sets of fans intensified after "The Mother of all Defeats", when the Germans famously triumphed over the Dutch in the 1974 World Cup final.
"At first the Germans thought they were being generous to the Jews, allowing us to play," says Anka. "Then they saw how wonderfully the music was played, and presumably had the idea to stage performances, and make films, for the outside world".
Some outside observers picked up on this peculiar form of pride – a kind of anti-nationalist nationalism – and gently mocked it: Timothy Garton Ash, for instance, spoke of Deutsche Industrie-Normen – a German industrial standard – in "coming to terms with the past"; others crowned the Germans "world champions in remembrance".
Are Germans justified, then, in so much tortured self-criticism?
But one senior coalition figure said any concessions offered by the Germans would amount to "chickenfeed" that would not satisfy Tory eurosceptics.
Juncker, perceived until now as an honest broker in the crisis – taking a softer approach than the Germans, who are viewed in Greece as the architects of austerity – has rarely been seen in such an irate state, sources close to the EU in Garmisch-Partenkirchen said.
Walter pulled the strings to formidable effect; no fewer than four of the Germans' half dozen goals came from set pieces, and he coolly scored twice from the penalty spot.
By then, however, Codesal had almost lost control of the game, such was the strength of Argentinian feeling on the subject of the penalty with which Andreas Brehme won the cup for the West Germans.
Matthaus's contribution was solid rather than inspirational and for much of the game the Germans relied on free-kicks and centres, especially when they were provided by Brehme, for their scoring chances.
Now Maradona's simple but well-timed pass over the halfway line caught the Germans fully committed to attack and left Burruchaga with a clear run towards Schumacher.
