Frankfurt - German football officials expressed delight Tuesday on winning a UEFA award for youth team work.

Germany have won the Maurice Burlaz Trophy awarded to the national association which has achieved the best results in European men's youth competitions.

"We are delighted and proud to win this award for the best youth work in Europe for the first time," German football federation DFB secretary-general Wolfgang Niersbach said.

The award, named after the Frenchman and former vice-chairman of the UEFA youth committee, will be presented at the next youth competition draw ceremony in Nyon, Switzerland on December 7.

Germany, who won the under-19 tournament in 2007/08 and the under-17 and under-21 championships this year, finished ahead of Spain, who had won the trophy four times in succession.

DFB sports director Matthias Sammer said the award was "confirmation of our youth team work over the past few years and a great incentive to continue working hard."

Germany have a generation of young players who have come up through the youth ranks to win full international caps.

Among those who will be vying for places in the squad for the World Cup in South Africa next year are goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (Schalke 04), midfielders Sami Khedira (VfB Stuttgart), Mesut Ozil and Marko Marin (both Werder Bremen), and defenders Andreas Beck (Hoffenheim) and Jerome Boateng (SV Hamburg). (dpa)