Christopher Zeller put the Germans ahead only for Mark Knowles and Matthew Taylor to give Australia a 2-1 half-time lead in Moenchengladbach.

Troy Elder put the Australians further ahead but the Germans responded through Moritz Fuerste and Bjoern Emmerling.

Zeller's second put the Germans ahead and their win was secured when Luke Doerner's shot rebounded off the post.

Australia, seeking their first World Cup title, lost Jamie Dwyer, 2004 world player of the year, before the start when he withdrew injured.

The match was the best possible finish for the World Cup, a showcase piece of hockey at its best.

Germany had their first great opportunity in the 14th minute, after Sebastian Draguhn had intercepted a bad pass in the Australian midfield. Fuerste played the ball into the circle for Witthaus on the far right. Witthaus took a shot from a narrow angle but Stephen Mowlam saved.

Little later however, a fabulous piece of individual play from Young Player of the Year Zeller gave Germany the lead. Zeller ran through the middle and into the circle outplaying four Australians, then hit the ball into the net.

Barely a minute later, the Kookaburras won a penalty corner, Knowles hitting the ball towards the middle of the goal. German keeper Bubolz got to the bouncy ball but it still went through under him for the equaliser.

Another minute later, Australia were awarded another penalty corner. Matt Naylor flicked hard, aiming just under the crossbar, but Bubolz saved valiantly.

Australia were now caught up in a forward drive that carried them up to and into the German circle in a minute beat. They had yet another penalty corner, another chance for Naylor, and this time, he took it to give Australia the lead.

Germany gathered their bearings again, taking the match back down to the other side of the pitch and winning a penalty corner in the 33rd minute. Zeller's 115 kmph flick was saved excellently by Mowlam.

Another attack half a minute later got Germany into the circle again with a fabulous run from Zeller, laying off to Emmerling who hit the ball towards the far post but Emmerling's diagonal shot was wide and Carlos Nevado sliding in to tip it in from the left couldn't get to it.

The teams went into halftime at 2-1 for Australia.

Germany came back to the game more aggressively, pushing forward from the restart. The counter attack carried Australia into the circle however. The ball bounced.

A minute later, Germany had a fabulous opportunity when Mowlam saved a shot and kicked the ball out hard to the left. Carlos Nevado picked it up on the edge of the circle and launched a superb reverse stick shot but a great reaction from Mowlam denied him.

Coming back immediately, Germany won a free hit in midfield. Zeller quickly executed, hitting towards the goal for Fuerste to dive in for Germany's second goal.

Barely a minute later, Emmerling got to the top of the circle, passing to the right. An Australian defender intercepted the ball but Fuerste dived in to push it off his stick to the left where Emmerling got to it again and put a reverse stick shot over Mowlam. Mowlam jumped into the air to get to it but could only watch the ball fall into the net behind him.

Five minutes after that, Germany finally took over the lead with a fabulous, fabulous goal from Zeller. Having picked up the ball in left midfield, Zeller produced an awesome solo run, making the Australian defence look slow and awkward.

Running past Mowlam, he pushed the ball in behind the keeper, making the 12,000 spectators go absolutely crazy.

The pressure was now on Australia to take the initiative. They pushed forward desperately but found no way through the ranks of the Germans.

With five minutes to go, the Kookaburras had a supreme chance to equalise when they were awarded a controversial penalty corner that caused much protest from the German players. Luke Doerner's flick was deflected slightly by Bubolz and hit the left post, the opportunity now gone.

Australia soon found themselves running out of time. They attacked desperately but were denied time and again by the ever reliable, excellent German defence.

With this spectacular win in the final, Germany hold on to their world champion title for another four years. Olympic champions Australia take silver.

Meanwhile, Spain beat South Korea 3-2 in the third-place play-off thanks to Pol Amat's 71st-minute golden goal.