phins_4_ever
E12 FH Tailgate Gang
*just some thoughts by me*
52 years ago, today, a nation stepped onto the soccer world. Germany, previously in group play beaten by Hungary (8-3), pulled the upset and beat a superior Hungary team by the score of 3-2 to capture the World Cup for the first time. It was the first time this nation appeared on the world stage in soccer after the war, and it didn't leave the world stage until this year. It also sparked a little bit of national pride of a war torn nation and was a catalyst for the "industrial miracle" of former West Germany through the 50s and 60s into the 70s.
That July 4, 1954 Germany started a run which surpasses Brazil in numbers of appearances in Quarterfinal, Semi Finals and Finals and is only surpassed by Brazil's 5 World Cup trophies. As a matter of fact, during that time Germany missed the QFs only one time: 1978. Well even that could be disputed. In 1978 there was really no QF or semifinal. The second round was group play as well: 8 teams, two groups, second place teams played for thrid place and first lace teams played for the Cup. Germany finished third behind the Netherlands (2-2) and Italy (0-0). The knockout was essentially a sensational 2-3 loss to Austria. But 1978 surely ranks among the most dissapointing World Cups.
Since July 4, 1954 Germany went to the Cup finals always with high expectations. The expectations were so high that QF appearances were considered a minimum and the Cup a failure if not advancing further.
The 2002 final was considered an exception to the rule. It was sandwiched between two dissappointing appearances in the Euro 2000 and Euro 2004 in which Germany did not even win one single game. This all changed in 2004. After a dissappointing Euro 2004 coach Voeller (former striker) resigned. He failed to bring back old glory to the german squad. Officials in Germany looked around and got one refusal after another. Eventually they took Klinsmann. Klinsmann brought a different attitude to a nation which was divided (mental east-west barrier), on the bring of financial disaster (the unification cost exceed 6 trillion dollars) and not even their pride (national soccer team) being a major player.
The word was that Germany was entering the dark ages in soccer. No young talent on the horizon, former stars aging, and the word was "rebuilding". And that was in preparation for a world cup on "home court".
Klinsmann said from the get go that Germany must not only compete in the WC but also has to play attractive soccer. He was smiled at, laughed at, became the joke in german soccer. He hired the biggest (in numbers) coaching staff Germany ever had. Positions like strengthening coaches, sports psycholgists which never existed for the national team, were created. He pulled in former teammate and fellow striker Bierhoff as a manager. He made tough decisions which were heavily critisised i.e. like firing goalie coach and goalie legend Sepp Maier and it went to the point that he made the toughest of all choices and selected Lehmann over Kahn as goalie. Germany struggled along in preparation of the WC. No competitve matches (as a host you are automatically qualified), just friendlies. Results were mixed and nobody believed that the offensive philosophy would catch on. The defense was exposed and had holes. Klinsmann than had to fight off critics saying that he should live in Germany instead of California. Despite all that, he continued on, always smiled and build the new german soccer team. A new coaching philosophy, a new team attitude, new ideas and a bunch of old fashioned soccer officials just waiting for Klinsmann to fail, a drop in world rankings to #19 - that all combined and only 10% of germans believed the team could reach the finals, and under 50% thought Germany would go further than the QF.
But than the WC began. Germany, previously with no shot at the title, began to play the most attractive soccer of all teams in Group play. Extremly offensively oriented, with a fun attitude nobody has ever seen a german team display. The nation rallyed. The mental barrier between east and west dissappeared, multi culture differences were suddenly non existent. The nation celebrated in groups. Hardly anybody stayed home. Gigantic fanfests with big screen TVs, pub, arenas and non FIFA stadiums housed most fans who couldn't go to the games. It was an international celebration behind a nation who rallyed, a nation who had suddenly raised its hopes on and off the soccer field. Not only were all the games sold out, but they all were attended as well which is a novelty in FIFA Worldcup. The Ukraine and Tunesia playing in front of 72,000 people? Who could have thought? And the deeper the WC went on, the people caught onto the flexibility, looseness of the team and its coaches. It came to the point that some major newspapers said that politicians and business and people in general should learn a lesson from Klinsmann and Co. Be flexible, be adventurous. I concur: in 2004/2005 I wanted to invest a little bit in my old country. But I had to leave totally frustrated because germans were to stubborn, not flexible enough and to scared to take risks. To old fashioned. For me at least. I live for now almost 20 years in Florida and have business in the carebbean and of course I have a more "tropical", laid back attitude.
Anyways, so Germany probably will begin to adopt (as suggested by newspapers) the 9 "we" rules which Klinsmann put in place:
- We believe in the WC title
- We believe in our strength
- We will appear as a team. The good of the team has priority
- We are there for one another
- We are the representatives for our country
- We will approach openly any critisism. We will approach provacation with a smile
- We solve all problems and disagreements together
- We always think positivly
- We will respect everybody and try to motivate ourselves and everybody around us
link in german: http://www.rp-online.de/public/bildershow/nachrichten/politik/deutschland/16809
Anyhow, German will go today as a clear underdog into the match. And regardless if Germany advances or not. This years team has done as much as the team in 1954. Because once again a nation who searches for its identity (in 54 it was because of division, in 2006 it is because of unification which caused a division) has rallyed.
"The miracle of Berne" July 4, 1954 and "The miracle of Dortmund" July 4, 2006 could be forever embedded in German history.
And of course I wish everybody a happy fourth of July....
I am done with my crap...
:sidelol:
52 years ago, today, a nation stepped onto the soccer world. Germany, previously in group play beaten by Hungary (8-3), pulled the upset and beat a superior Hungary team by the score of 3-2 to capture the World Cup for the first time. It was the first time this nation appeared on the world stage in soccer after the war, and it didn't leave the world stage until this year. It also sparked a little bit of national pride of a war torn nation and was a catalyst for the "industrial miracle" of former West Germany through the 50s and 60s into the 70s.
That July 4, 1954 Germany started a run which surpasses Brazil in numbers of appearances in Quarterfinal, Semi Finals and Finals and is only surpassed by Brazil's 5 World Cup trophies. As a matter of fact, during that time Germany missed the QFs only one time: 1978. Well even that could be disputed. In 1978 there was really no QF or semifinal. The second round was group play as well: 8 teams, two groups, second place teams played for thrid place and first lace teams played for the Cup. Germany finished third behind the Netherlands (2-2) and Italy (0-0). The knockout was essentially a sensational 2-3 loss to Austria. But 1978 surely ranks among the most dissapointing World Cups.
Since July 4, 1954 Germany went to the Cup finals always with high expectations. The expectations were so high that QF appearances were considered a minimum and the Cup a failure if not advancing further.
The 2002 final was considered an exception to the rule. It was sandwiched between two dissappointing appearances in the Euro 2000 and Euro 2004 in which Germany did not even win one single game. This all changed in 2004. After a dissappointing Euro 2004 coach Voeller (former striker) resigned. He failed to bring back old glory to the german squad. Officials in Germany looked around and got one refusal after another. Eventually they took Klinsmann. Klinsmann brought a different attitude to a nation which was divided (mental east-west barrier), on the bring of financial disaster (the unification cost exceed 6 trillion dollars) and not even their pride (national soccer team) being a major player.
The word was that Germany was entering the dark ages in soccer. No young talent on the horizon, former stars aging, and the word was "rebuilding". And that was in preparation for a world cup on "home court".
Klinsmann said from the get go that Germany must not only compete in the WC but also has to play attractive soccer. He was smiled at, laughed at, became the joke in german soccer. He hired the biggest (in numbers) coaching staff Germany ever had. Positions like strengthening coaches, sports psycholgists which never existed for the national team, were created. He pulled in former teammate and fellow striker Bierhoff as a manager. He made tough decisions which were heavily critisised i.e. like firing goalie coach and goalie legend Sepp Maier and it went to the point that he made the toughest of all choices and selected Lehmann over Kahn as goalie. Germany struggled along in preparation of the WC. No competitve matches (as a host you are automatically qualified), just friendlies. Results were mixed and nobody believed that the offensive philosophy would catch on. The defense was exposed and had holes. Klinsmann than had to fight off critics saying that he should live in Germany instead of California. Despite all that, he continued on, always smiled and build the new german soccer team. A new coaching philosophy, a new team attitude, new ideas and a bunch of old fashioned soccer officials just waiting for Klinsmann to fail, a drop in world rankings to #19 - that all combined and only 10% of germans believed the team could reach the finals, and under 50% thought Germany would go further than the QF.
But than the WC began. Germany, previously with no shot at the title, began to play the most attractive soccer of all teams in Group play. Extremly offensively oriented, with a fun attitude nobody has ever seen a german team display. The nation rallyed. The mental barrier between east and west dissappeared, multi culture differences were suddenly non existent. The nation celebrated in groups. Hardly anybody stayed home. Gigantic fanfests with big screen TVs, pub, arenas and non FIFA stadiums housed most fans who couldn't go to the games. It was an international celebration behind a nation who rallyed, a nation who had suddenly raised its hopes on and off the soccer field. Not only were all the games sold out, but they all were attended as well which is a novelty in FIFA Worldcup. The Ukraine and Tunesia playing in front of 72,000 people? Who could have thought? And the deeper the WC went on, the people caught onto the flexibility, looseness of the team and its coaches. It came to the point that some major newspapers said that politicians and business and people in general should learn a lesson from Klinsmann and Co. Be flexible, be adventurous. I concur: in 2004/2005 I wanted to invest a little bit in my old country. But I had to leave totally frustrated because germans were to stubborn, not flexible enough and to scared to take risks. To old fashioned. For me at least. I live for now almost 20 years in Florida and have business in the carebbean and of course I have a more "tropical", laid back attitude.
Anyways, so Germany probably will begin to adopt (as suggested by newspapers) the 9 "we" rules which Klinsmann put in place:
- We believe in the WC title
- We believe in our strength
- We will appear as a team. The good of the team has priority
- We are there for one another
- We are the representatives for our country
- We will approach openly any critisism. We will approach provacation with a smile
- We solve all problems and disagreements together
- We always think positivly
- We will respect everybody and try to motivate ourselves and everybody around us
link in german: http://www.rp-online.de/public/bildershow/nachrichten/politik/deutschland/16809
Anyhow, German will go today as a clear underdog into the match. And regardless if Germany advances or not. This years team has done as much as the team in 1954. Because once again a nation who searches for its identity (in 54 it was because of division, in 2006 it is because of unification which caused a division) has rallyed.
"The miracle of Berne" July 4, 1954 and "The miracle of Dortmund" July 4, 2006 could be forever embedded in German history.
And of course I wish everybody a happy fourth of July....
I am done with my crap...
:sidelol: