footballspectator

A few years ago, Diego was hailed as the next big thing in Brazil. Forget Robinho, the original Santos starlet was playmaker Diego. He first burst onto the scene as a 17 year old and duly lead Emerson Leao’s young Santos side to their first championship in 18 years and all the wasy to the Libertadores final. The classic Brazilian number 10, Diego had it all. He dribbled, he had an excellent passing range and an eye for goal. In 2003, Tottenham’s bid to bring him to the premiership failed. Instead Diego extended his contract with Santos. The following summer after strong performances during Brazil’s Copa America triumph, he finally moved to Europe and to Porto, the then newly crowned European champions as a replacement for Barcelona bound Deco. During his first season, under Victor Fernandez, he managed 30 games for the Portuguese giants, but when Fernandez was fired and eventually replaced by Co Adriaanse, Diego was deemed surplus to requirements. He played only 19 times last season and missed out on Brazil’s World Cup squad.

It was time for a fresh start and this summer Diego moved to Werder Bremen. Now you would not think that Germany and Brazilian footballers would go well together. Spain, yes. Italy yes but Germany? Well many of Brazil’s finest have thrived here and Diego seems no different. There has been a magical transformation of his form. He has been the star in each of Werder’s first two games, scoring and setting up goals.So great has been his impact that Kicker has even compared him to the other Diego. Still only 21, the €6 million that Werder paid for him is looking like the bargain of the summer. Dunga are you watching?

We have heard people say, “I’ll support [team] until I die“. Well now Hamburg supporters will have the opportunity to support their team from beyond the grave following the clubs announcement that they will be opening a graveyard for their fans. Club president Christian Reinhard said that the graveyard would be located just behind the AOL Arena. “It won’t have coloured tombstones, but it will be a final resting place for true fans“, he commented. I would have thought Hamburg fans would rather that the AOL Arena were a graveyard for the opposition rather than their own…

Marcello Lippi and Jurgen Klinsmann both quit as coaches of Italy and Germany today. Coincidence? Probably, but these were two of the most successful coaches at the World Cup. The problem seems to have been the pressure they were both under prior to the tournament.

Klinsmann, especially, was heavily criticised in the German media due to the host nation’s poor run of form prior to the tournament. Indeed, had Germany not beaten what was effectively the US’s second team 4-1 in a friendly in Dortmund, he would have probably been sacked. Lippi’s name too had been dragged through the mud due to his links with the “calciopoli” scandal.

Yet suddenly they are both heroes who can do not wrong and all is forgotten/forgiven. While the press may have short memories, Klinsmann and Lippi do not. They know that at the first signs of things going wrong the press will turn on them again - too much success does not make an interesting story after all.Need examples? Otto Rehhagel - worshipped following Greece’s unexpected Euro 2004 victory but now “useless” after Greece’s failure to qualify for Germany. Eriksson hailed following England’s 5-1 victory in Germany in 2001, to the extent that a song was written about him, but now a waste of money for failing to inspire England’s “golden generation” who (according only to the English media) should have won the title with ease.  No question of underperforming players or overhyped expectations - no, no, it was the coach’s fault on both occasions!

Marcello, Jurgen you have done the right thing!

Its been 3 days since Germany’s loss to Italy in the epic semi-final in Dortmund and the Germans are yet to get over it. A number of journalists have declared all out war on Italy. Yesterday the website of newspaper Die Zeit had an article entitled “Mafia in the final” with a picture of some of the Italian players posing in their underwear. It also contained a link to an article entitled “Moggiopoli“, reminding its readers of the scandal currently gripping Italian football. Rheinische Post follows Die Zeit’s line and talks of the “French Revolution” which it expects to take place in Sunday’s final. Further, rather than focussing on tomorrow’s game most German press coverage if focussing on the future of their national team.
Following the incidents that marred the quarterfinal victory over Argentina, the Germans accused the Argentineans of being bad losers. Maybe they should take a look at themselves before they accuse others.

Germany will have to do without influential Torsten Frings in tomorrow’s semi-final against Italy in Dortmund. FIFA suspended Frings for one match for “violent conduct” for his part in the mass brawl which started after Germany’s penalty shoot out win over Argentina. Frings was caught on camera directing a couple of “punches” at Julio Cruz.

If the following is deemed violent conduct, Maxi Rodriguez and Leandro Cufre should probably expect jail sentences for launching a flying punch at Schweinsteiger and karate kicking Mertesacker respectively..

An inhabitant of the tiny Bavarian village of Konzel discovered an eery correlation between German victories and a local festivity called “Kirta Sonntag”, a religious celebration which takes place annually on the first Sunday after 4 July:

1954: West Germany wins the World Cup in Switzerland on 4 July, the same day as Kirta Sonntag.

1974: The “Nationalmannschaft” lift the World title on home soil on Sunday 7 July, again Kirta Sonntag.

1990: Brehme’s penalty hands West Germany victory over Argentina in Rome on 8 July. Yes you guessed it, Kirta Sonntag.

This year’s final in Berlin also falls on Kirta Sonntag and the locals of the “modern oracle of Delphi” (as the Germans have taken to calling Konzel) are convinced that Klinsmann’s squad will be crowned World champions. So far their prediction is looking good with the team safely through to the semi-finals.

Lukas Podolski was the German hero on Saturday, producing two early goals to send Germany through to set up a mouth-watering quarter final match up against Argentina.

A match which on paper seemed difficult turned out to be a breeze. In truth the Swedes, much like their star player Zlatan, have been disappointing in this tournament, the one exception being their second-half performance against England. Their cause was not helped by the dismissal of Teddy Lucic with ten minutes of the second half remaining, but by that time they were already 2-0 down. Further misfortune was to follow when the normally clinical Henrik Larsson skyed his penalty.

From then on it was one-way traffic. Ballack was very impressive, pulling the strings in midfield and both he and Schneider hit the post. Podolski should have had a hat-trick. The team has grown since their nervy opening performance against Costa Rica. However, they now come up against their first major stumbling block – Argentina. Now we will find out how good they really are.

Polish born strike force of Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski both scored to help Germany to a 3-0 victory over Ecuador in Berlin which means that Germany is the winner of Group A and will now face the second place team (probably Sweden) on Saturday for a place in the quarter-finals. Klose’s second double strike of the tournament means he is now the leading scorer on 4 goals.

Ecuador played like a team that was delighted just to qualify for the last 16 and did not really care who they will face next. Their team selection showed this, with Borja and Kaviedes coming in for first choice duo Tenorio and Delgado. A few tough tackles and a Mendez free kick apart, they showed very little. Klose’s first owed a lot to Schweinsteiger’s pull back and his second to Ballack’s neat pass and Mora’s poor anticipation. The third was scored as a result of a swift counter-attack following an Ecuador corner, Podolski converting Schneider’s cross.

After so many doubts about how they would perform and indeed whether they would even qualify from their group, given their form in the build-up, the hosts have made it. Their performance have exceeded expectations (well expectations were pretty low). Huge doubts remain about the ability of trio Metzelder, Mertesacker and Friedrich in defence as they have not yet faced top class opposition.

Also in Group A, Poland finished third by beating Costa Rica 2-1. For those who care, here are the goals: 0-1 , 1-1, 2-1.

The Swiss Oliver Neuville who speaks Italian better than German was the Nationalmannschaft’s hero with his injury time winner over a vastly improved Poland which leaves Germany needing just 1 point to ensure qualification. Germany started well, vreating numerous chances which their forwards failed to put away. Indeed, both Klose and Podolski were guilty of missing the unmissable in the first half. Klose was totally unmarked yet put his free header wide from 2 metres out and Podolski somehow managed to put his shot wide from even closer. The Poles always looked dangerous on the break, but in a much better defensive performance, the Germans managed to keep them at bay.

Even following the sending off of Sobolewski, Germany seemed to be unable to capitalise on their superiority. In a comical sequence, Klose headed Lahm’s cross against the bar and Ballack following up smashed his shot against a near identical spot on the crossbar with just a couple of minutes left. However, it was Klinsmann’s substitutes which helped him out. Surprise squad inclusion David Odonkor crossed from the right and Neuville, sliding in at the near post, made no mistake.

Germany still look nowhere near as strong as the Czechs, Argentineans, Ivorians etc and they will be keen to avoid England in the last 16, especially if Rooney is able to play. The prospect should provide them with sufficient motivation to want to beat Ecuador.

Giant Czech striker Jan Koller has left Dortmund on a free transfer and signed a two-year contract with French club Monaco. Monaco will be looking to Koller to provide them with the firepower they need to improve on last year’s disappointing showing in Le Championnat. Koller only returned to action last month after a long spell out with a knee injury sustained in September. The 33 year-old has an impressive international scoring record with 42 goals in 67 appearances. The Czechs will be hoping that his little and large combination with Milan Baros will carry them through a tough group which includes Italy, the USA and Ghana. The prize for qualification? A potential second round clash with Brazil…oh dear..

In one of the longest running transfer sagas of the summer, Germany forward Lukas Podolski has left Cologne to join Bayern Munich in a €10 million deal. At just 20, Podolski is a key member of Germany’s World Cup squad and one of the big hopes of German football. Fans of the Nationalmannschaft are looking to him and Miroslav Klose to supply the goals which will take Germany beyond the group stages to the business end of the competition.

Podolski struggled with form this year, with only 12 goals in 30 starts in Die Bundesliga and will have his work cut out in replacing Michael Ballack as the new local hero.

Bayern’s forward line already includes Roy Makaay, Roque Santa Cruz and Peruvian duo Claudio Pizarro and Paulo Guerrero and questions must now be raised about their futures, especially Santa Cruz who seems to spend more time in surgery than on the pitch.

Germany announced their squad for the WC today: Jürgen Klinsmann dropped Kevin Kuranyi but picked 32-year old defender Jens Nowotny and newcomer David Odonkor.

Kuranyi certainly had a weak season with Schalke, and failed to deliver after his €6.9million move from Stuttgart. Having said so, we still think he would have been a better choice than Gerald Asamoah (not sure why he plays for Germany…). With regard to Nowotny, we’re glad to see that Klinsmann has finally woken up! The Leverkusen defender, who hasn’t played for Germany since the new coach took over after Euro2004, has had a fantastic season and should have been called in the team a long time ago: he will bring a lot of experience and add the stability the German defence so desperately needs. As for 22-year old Borussia Dortmund midfielder Odonkor, who has only played for Germany’s U21, Klinsmann explained:

He’s a great talent and brings something we urgently need - speed, the unexpected and someone who can sprint to the goal line and give us a cross from deep in the corner. We believe that he can help us with his cheekiness, something we’re missing.

All in all Germany appears to be rather weak: apart from 3 world-class goalkeepers, a world-class midfielder (Ballack) and a striker with world-class potential (Podolski), they look too vulnerable in defence and lack lethal striking force, and many of the 23 players in the squad would hardly make it into any of the other major national team. It will be tough for Germany.