World Cup blog: Week 5

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Thursday

Thanx Robin for the comments on the 2006 soccer tournament here in Germany as well as for your travel diary. For me as a German it has been real fun to read. Keep on! By the way: When is the next Rugby World Cup going to happen in NZ? Maybe someone from Germany will write a blog then? (And the All Blacks will win for sure.)
- - - Posted 4.25am by Klaus


Wednesday

Living in the Stuttgart area of Germany I enjoyed your blog greatly. It made nice reading and I would agree with most judgements - I thought Kiwis could
only talk rugby. As for your relationship with german/polish sausages: A friend of mine is a keen exporter...... Have a good world cup in 2011 in NZ,
- - - Posted 5.50am by Karl


Tuesday

So the World Cup is over. You guys can lie-in in the morning and I can go into whatever therapy is available for those who watch far too much football over a short period of time.

Here's a wee summary of my personal World Cup highlights.

Best goal: Phillip Lahm, Germany v Costa Rica. First goal of the tournament if memory serves me well. Fantastically taken after the left back cut back onto his right to rifle a shot into the far corner but more significant in that it gave the German public a confidence in their team that helped launch a month-long party in the country.

Best player: Italian captain Fabio Cannavaro.
I just can't get over how at 175cm he out jumps nearly everyone (a potential lineout training specialist?)
His positioning is also fantastic and leadership qualities seem proven too.

Best team not to make final: Ghana. The African side out-Braziled Brazil in their clash only to concede dumb goals. Who cares, they were great going forward.

Best supporter: Maradona/Beckenbauer. The crazed Argentine with the Cuban cigars was a feature of the tournament, until his side was knocked out of course. Der Kaiser has more staying power sometimes watching three games a day in the group stages as he flew around Germany in a chopper.

Best fans: Australia/Mexico: The Aussies were at their binge-drinking best and bought a bit of Rugby Sevens atmosphere to the World Cup with their costumes and inflatable sharks, gators, kangaroos etc. That more than 30,000 Mexicans turned up to watch Mexico play Angola just has to be celebrated.

Worst and at the same time best fans: England. They are a handful, drunk and mostly a bit older, but when they sing in the stadiums they are simply unbeatable.

Best host city: Kaiserslautern. The stadium is right a the heart of this small town, it was only walking distance to the fan-mile and it was just a big party every time I visited.

Best Stadium: Dortmund. The Westfalen stadium is simply football pure. Towering stands built close to the pitch and a fantastic public. Pity about the transport system.

Best Sausage: Krakauer. Polish in origin, flavoursome and with just enough bite.

Best beer: Flensburger Pils. I have no idea why, it just was.

Best street party: Bremen, Ostertor Viertel. It went mad there after Germany's win over Argentina.

Worst aspect of Cup: Diving, faking injuries. A blight on the game that must be countered. Perhaps by improving the refereeing for a start.

Best coach: Ricardo Lavolpe, Mexico. Just let the guy chain smoke in the dugout, it's like turning back the clock to 1974.

Ok that's enough rambling. Special thanks must go to all the people who put me up on this quite amazing journey. You know who you are. It wouldn't have been possible without you, much respect. Out of here or auf wiedersehen as the locals would say around these parts.
- - - Posted 7.45am By Robin Martin


Monday

Well,as regular readers will know I have a thing about the Italian player Fabio Grosso.

The lanky defender with the No 3 on his back tends to get forward towards the end of matches and has twice before featured in these posts.

And while most people will undoubtedly, and perhaps quite rightly, be talking about the flawed genius that is Zinadine Zidane I prefer to celebrate the man who stood up and took the very last kick of the 2006 World Cup.

Yes, that's right, with the scores locked at 1-1 after extra time it was our man Grosso as Italy's last penalty taker who confidently stood over the ball and converted the spot kick that gave his side victory (some would say deservedly) and the World Cup crown.

You'll remember he crept up in the last minute of normal time against Australia at Kaiserslautern to lure Lucas Neil into the foul (well at least that is how the ref saw it) that earned the penalty which ended Australia's run at this tournament.

Then in the pressure cooker that was the Westfalen Stadium in Dortmund it was Grosso who broke the hearts of the host nation in the semifinal.

After collecting a tidy pass from Andrea Pirlo (in the 119th minute) the defender delicately curled the ball beyond the incredible reach of Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann - and then Del Pirero compounded Germany's misery, adding a second in the last minute of extra time.

So while Grosso may not be a legend like Zidane (who, text messages from New Zealand confirm, headbutted Italian defender Marco Materazzi to earn his sending off in the 110th minute) but he is certainly the man for decisive goals.

OK, if you insist, back to Zidane.

He did after all score a wacky penalty that cannoned off the crossbar and (yes, again according to Kiwi text message it did cross the line) after Florent Malouda drew a clumsy tackle in the box.

But this wasn't the way it was meant to be Zizou, was it? The multiple winner of the world footballer of the year title dismissed from the field in the final match of his career - the World Cup final.

Oh dear, they have just shown the relay of Zidane's indiscretion and I'd have to say as a veteran of many a refereeing assignment in the Auckland over 35s division one, the man had to go.

But back to Grosso and the boys, yes deserved winners.

After scoring the equaliser through Materrazi, who got on the end of a Pirlo corner, they eventually dominated if only slightly and scraped together more chances.

Tough, technically sound and tactically flexible the Italians are worthy 2006 World Cup champions.

In Pirlo they had one of the classiest playmakers and in Fabio Cannavaro the tournament's outstanding defender, his ability to win heading duels despite his 175cm is remarkable.

Up front Luca Toni was always a handful and he had plenty of support of the bench and from Francesco Totti who threatened, hanging in behind the big man up front.

Just don't mention a certain corruption scandal, eh.

OK, enough already. My personal favourites to follow later.
- - - Posted 12.35pm by Robin Martin


Sunday

The black, red and gold were back in fashion as Germany saw off Portugal in the match for third place.

Throughout the trendy and Berlin suburbs of Krutzeberg and Prinzlauer Berg the national colours were again in evidence in the bars and cafes and no doubt thousands more German supporters had gathered on the Tiergarten fan mile.

But although the 3-0 victory helped the local fans heal the still fresh wounds from the semifinal loss with Italy don't be fooled into thinking that the German national side enjoyed universal support.

A small anti-World Cup campaign has been active throughout the tournament (if only on the fringes).

The movement finds its roots in the youthful leftwing movement and even promoted the idea of Germany failing to qualify for the second round.


Of course most of the country has stood firmly behind its team as illustrated by the street cleaning firm operating on the fan mile in Dortmund.

The "cleansmann motif" on the back of their workers' shirts shows where their loyalties lie while perhaps helping to belie the fact that Germans have no sense of humour.

Now it's off to the fantastic Olmpiastadion in Berlin to bring this tale to an end ("finally", I can hear you saying in the background)

It's time to find out whether the masterful Zidane and his French veterans can undo a dynamic Italian side that has puts aside the scandals at home and a shaky start to the campaign (not unlike the French) to look the form team of the tournament.

It should be fascinating.

Watch for the post directly after the final.
- - - Posted 10pm by Robin Martin


Thursday

Well sorry to the reader who tipped Portugal, but they were undone by a combination of Henry who was brought down in a clumsy tackle and Zidane who converted the subsequent first half penalty.

Now it may be that I had simply overindulged in bratwurst and pork cutlets at the Spiller household's BBQ but my eyes did begin to glaze over during the match and it occurred to me how pleased I was I hadn't travelled to Munich to watch the game in the flesh.

France's old guard did just enough to neutralise the Portuguese attack - which with a lone striker offered too little - but not much else.

Lets hope that Zidane and Co can offer Italy a genuine challenge because on the evidence of the two semifinals you'd have to make the Italians favourites for the final.

But having said that France's defence is well organised and lets not forget they completely outclassed a Spanish team that seemed able to create chances at will.

One positive aspect of Portugal's exit is that it does at least mean that England can't claim that they were knocked out by the eventual World Cup victors.

And lets not forget the kick-fest against the Netherlands and their talents in the diving arena.

A France v Italy final has a classic ring to it but it must be said much of the interest in the final has dissipated here with the demise of the German side.

The locals have taken the disappointment relatively well with most saying that if Germany had been offered a place in the semifinals before the tournament they would have been satisfied with that.

Even the tabloid press stood firmly behind the national team.

The Bild's frontpage headline read "We're crying with you" and the sports lead "You fought like world champions".

It will be interesting to see if Klinsmann's boys can get themselves up for the playoff for third place.

But as fascinating as that contest may be it's off to Berlin to bring this tour to (hopefully) an exciting end.
- - - posted 3.00pm by Robin Martin

Wednesday

Well 80 million Germans are in mourning for their World Cup dream and who was it but that man Grosso again.

The Italian defender, I repeat defender, collects a lovely little pass in the box and curls his shot past Lehmann in the German goal in the 118th minute or something like that.

To add insult to injury pesky wee substitute and Italian football legend Del Piero comes off the bench to collect another lovely pass from Alberto Gilardino to make it 2-0 on 120 minutes again with a beautiful curling shot.

You'll remember Grosso he was the Italian who got forward in the last minute of normal time against Australia and beat his marker on the wing dribbled into the box and somehow managed to tumble over Lucas Neil and earn Italy the penalty that knocked the Aussies out.

But as much as it has been wonderful to get swept up in the German enthusiasm for the team under Jurgen Klinsmann (it's very easy to like the guy despite his Californian accent) I'd have to say the Italians were the better team on the night.

They risked more as penalties approached throwing on four out and out attacking players and created the clearer chances including a shot against the near post and one onto the crossbar in the first half of extra time.

While Italian coach Marcello Lippi was his usual ever so slightly arrogant self after the game claiming that his side was clearly dominate while his counterpart Klinsmann paid tribute to both his players and their Italian conquerors.

"Of course it is a huge disappointment to lose that way after 120 minutes but I must pay a huge compliment to my team and the character they showed.

"I must make a big compliment to Italy too, it was a tight match but they are in the final and that is what make football so fascinating.

Asked about the improved form of his side during the tournament Klinsmann said: "There are a lot of young players in our team and it is a very special thing to play a World Cup in your own country.

"We played with a lot of spirit, we played a very fast, attractive style - I am very proud of the football we played.

"The World Cup has been a huge success for the team and Germany itself. A whole new German face has been shown to the world."

Can't help but agree with the man there and I'm hoping the party atmosphere that has engulfed Germany doesn't just disappear now that they are out of the tournament.

Well as regular readers will know I've got to dash - yet another overnight train to catch.
- - - Posted 12pm by Robin Martin


Tuesday

Ah Rach, thanks for your comments below, but what can I say: what is a bloke to do on yet another sultry - and match-free - summer's day than have a long sleep-in, catch up with the latest World Cup news in the papers before getting out and enjoying the sun with a tasty Alster near at hand.

An Alster is essentially a shandy and considered an acceptable mid-summer's drop over here - none of that "it's a woman's drink, I wouldn't be seen dead drinking a shady" you might expect back home.

In the south of Germany this refreshing drop goes by the name of Radler while here in Bremen it's Alster. There are a few variations on the theme but essentially we are talking about beer and lemonade.

The temperatures have been such that come evening when the sun ever so slowly takes it leave for the day - somehow sunsets seem to take hours here - hundreds of people come out from their apartments to catch the cooler air.

They gather on the banks of the Weser to enjoy a beer, kick a ball about or (believe it or not) inline skate. Cycling is an essential form of transport in these parts but many folk also seem to be out just enjoying the breeze created by their efforts.

In Bremen the major World Cup controversy is the suspension of local hero Torsten Frings from the German side to play Italy in the semifinal.

Frings was involved in the unsavoury melee at the end of the German clash with Argentina and their southern European rivals apparently provided Fifa with pictures of Frings punching and Argentine player.

Fifa subsequently banned the player.

He will most likely be replaced by Tim Borowski who is also from the Werder Bremen club ' former employer of one Wynton Rufer, New Zealand's greatest ever player.

Germany will be attempting not only to qualify for the final when they face Italy but also show how far they have come since March this year when the Azzuri took them apart in Florence inflicting a 4-1 drubbing on Jurgen Klinsmann's team just 100 days before the tournament began.

The 72,000 people who cram into the Dortmund stadium will mostly be hoping for a wee bit of revenge me thinks.
- posted 10.10am by Robin Martin


Monday

It's been five years now and I'm starting to wake up on these freezing mornings, at 5.30am, on the mattress in the lounge with the unlined walls, with three small children clambering about saying 'toast! porridge!' and I think, oh do I HAVE to get up AGAIN in the cold and the dark to make breakfast for five people in a windy kitchen? So your posts have been my treat to read when the coffee is ready and the fire is blazing and I can open the laptop for a precious 15 minutes before the day begins... Keep up the good work!
- - - posted 6.55am by Rachel

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