Germany may have benefited from a touch of South African voodoo magic in demolishing old rivals England 4-1 to reach the quarter-finals.

It has been claimed that strikers Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose were blessed by a local South African faith healer in order to give them good luck in the World Cup. Muti, from the Zulu word for 'tree', is a traditional practice in South Africa, with many natives seeking out traditional cures for common ailments ranging from rashes to colds, as well as magical purposes such as bringing good fortune in love and business.

The practice is so widespread that Johannesburg's Soccer City, the stadium hosting the World Cup Final, was blessed in a ceremony last month involving some 300 healers and including the slaughter of a cow.

If true, the practice has clearly worked for Klose.

His two goals in South Africa have taken his World Cup career total to 12, level with Pele and just three behind the all-time record held by Brazil's Ronaldo.