PHOTOS: Thousands Of Germans Welcome Home Their World Cup Heroes

Germany’s World Cup-winning team were given the warmest welcome and hailed as national heroes as they returned home on Tuesday morning to celebrate the country’s fourth title and the trophy comeback to Germany for the first time in 24 years.

At least 400,000 people gathered at the ‘fan mile’ in front of Berlin’s landmark Brandenburg Gate to take a glimpse of the victorious football players who were touring through Berlin in an open-top bus emblazoned with the years they have won the competition – 1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014.

It would be recalled that Germany won the World Cup on Sunday after Mario Gotze’s extra-time strike secured a 1-0 victory over Argentina at the Maracana. Germany is the first European team to win a World Cup in the Americas.

Coach Joachim Loew said, "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. We’re all world champions! We’re incredibly happy to be here with the fans now."