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Lock up your mothers
July 5th, 2006
I must begin today's column with a correction.
In yesterday's entry, I wrote that the German crowd sang Deutschland Über
Alles during the semi-final in Dortmund.
Many years ago, I was taught that this was the name of the German national
anthem and I'd guess that a lot of other people outside Germany were too.
In fact, the German national anthem is Lied der Deutschen (Song of the
Germans). The first line of the original song's first verse begins with
the words, "Deutschland, Deutschland über alles" but this verse is not
used in the anthem.
I don't speak German so when the crowd sang the anthem before the second
half of extra time in Dortmund, I couldn't understand the words. But we
all know the tune.
Many thanks to Thomas Pauli who emailed me to explain my error.
It was hot and humid again today. Can you believe that I'll be able to
escape from this weather by leaving Germany and returning to Australia?
It's winter down under and, at least where I live, it will be cool for the
next two months.
I left Düsseldorf and returned to Frankfurt because I fly home from
Frankfurt's airport. My father also left Düsseldorf this morning but he's
going to Berlin for the World Cup Final.
As the Final is between Italy and France, I'm certain that many people
will be trying to sell tickets in Berlin. But I'm not tempted to try my
luck again. It's time to go home and return to reality - time to stop
spending money and start earning it again.
The area around Frankfurt's main train station is so familiar now that I
could write a guidebook about it. I'm not staying at the same hotel that I
stayed at when I spent two weeks here but I still found it without a map.
After some last minute souvenir shopping, I watched Portugal v France in
an Irish pub that I have previously mentioned in this diary.
It looks like I had a ticket for the better semi-final as this game didn't
reach the same heights. It wasn't France's best performance. Les bleus did
enough to reach the Final but, against Italy, they'll need to lift again
if they're going to regain the trophy they won eight years ago.
Here's a statistic for you: since (and including) 1986, when the knockout
phase of the finals was extended to 16 nations, only one team has scored a
total of one goal in the round of 16, the quarter-finals and the
semi-finals. You guessed it - Portugal 2006. (Even the Argentines of 1990
scored two.)
But Portugal's phenomenal luck simply couldn't continue. Can you believe
how much this team has had?
First, Portugal found itself in the easiest qualifying group imaginable.
This may have been needed given that the so-called Golden Generation
(surely one of international football's greatest misnomers) failed to
qualify for 1994 and 1998.
Then the Portuguese were drawn into Group D with Mexico (probably the
weakest seed), Angola (one of the weaker teams in the African contingent)
and an Iran team that is talented but still too inexperienced.
Finally, some bad refereeing helped this mediocre team into a last four
spot that it didn't deserve.
On the way, the Portuguese showed us that the cynicism and indiscipline of
their 2002 team wasn't a one off (and of course we've also seen it at the
Euros). The two contenders for the most dangerous foul of the tournament
were both committed by Portuguese players (and the award surely went to
Joao Pinto four years ago - though at least nobody punched a referee
this time).
Portugal´s attitude was defined in a few moments after France scored in
the first half. Cristiano Ronaldo tried to win a penalty by producing a
dive that would have had Greg Louganis gasping with admiration. Then Luiz
Felipe Scolari and the Portuguese bench jumped around like barefotted men
on hot sand.
Ronaldo has since complained about the referee (oh the irony) saying that
he should have shown more yellow cards. You´re right Cristiano, you should
have been booked for that dive.
By the way, what on earth was going through Ricardo Carvalho´s head today?
In the first half he gave away the penalty when he couldn´t resist kicking
out at Thierry Henry, and in the second half he earned a suspension with
the kind of tackle that will always result in a yellow card.
So it´s Italy v France on Sunday. Let´s hope that it delivers the quality
it promises. Italy looks the better side but France's old boys, criticised
for being over the hill, have shown that they still have enough class.
Residents of Berlin, lock up your mothers if they win a second World Cup.
This is my last entry from Germany but On The Spot continues until Sunday
(even though I won't be on the spot). The diary will just rest until I get
home.
Mmmm, 19 hours on planes broken up by 7 hours in an airport. Who wouldn't
look forward to that?
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