Absolutely Marble-ous

After Germany failed to win the World Cup, the shock was so great and the sadness so overwhelming, that many people feared the country was going to sink into a period of gloomy depression and existential indifference.

But Germany got its act together in no time. It didn't lose its marbles. If anything, it picked them up and went on winning.

German marble players from the Ore Mountains won the traditional world marbles championship at Tinsely Green, a small town in West Sussex -- once a bucolic region in England, where nowadays birds tweet and chirp to the roaring sounds of airplanes circling around London's Gatwick Airport.

The championship has been hosted by the Greyhound pub since 1932.

Who let the Germans in?

Leading British teams, such as the Black Dog Boozers, the Handross 49ers and the Barrel Crapers, were hoping to bring back the title to its homeland and do another noble deed for queen and country, after the Germans snatched it away in 2006.

The Germans, however, turned out to be indestructible. Two German teams reach the finals and members of MC Erzgebierge from Neukirchen in eastern Germany won their second consecutive tournament title on Friday.

One would have thought that a 29-hour drive in a van would have worn them out. But Teutonic strength and perseverance should never be underestimated.

"We've just made history," said team captain Christian Pampel, 24, after the victory.