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Keeping with history
No matter what happens, Germany refuses to give up
Posted: Monday June 29, 1998 05:41 PM
PARIS (CNN/SI) -- Germany is
ridiculously relentless ... and I mean that in the nicest possible way.
Just when you think they are down and out, they power back and move
through. It's highly irritating for those neutrals who want to see
underdogs thrive. But the German spirit really has to be revered and
admired. Germany trailed 1-0 to Mexico in the
World Cup second round and, but for the thickness of a post and a less than
devastating point-blank effort from "El Matador" Luis Hernandez, would have
been two down in the second half. Instead of being in a dark and
gaping hole, Germany rode its good fortune all the way into the
quarterfinals. A defensive lapse by Mexico saw German captain
Jurgen Klinsmann pounce for his third goal of the tournament, which makes a
mockery of suggestions coming into France '98 that
he was finished as a world class forward. Just four minutes
remained when Oliver Bierhoff joined his striking partner at three goals
with a winning header. Neither goal was anything special and they
certainly didn't match the skillful opener from Hernandez. But being pretty
and fancy isn't what Germany ais all about. It's all about being
winners, whatever it takes. The German mentality is remarkable. The
players simply refuse to crumble when they are under pressure, they always
think they will pull a bad situation around and they invariably do.
One need only look back over the history of the World Cup to see that.
A last-minute goal to force hosts England into
extra time in the 1966 final. A 3-2 win over reigning champions England in
the 1970 quarterfinals when they had trailed 2-0. A 2-1 win over Holland in
the 1974 final when they had conceded a first-minute penalty goal.
Should I continue? OK. Germany trailed 3-1 to France in the 1982
semi-finals, deep in extra time. Guess what? Germany won. That was the
tournament where they lost in the first group phase to Algeria in one of
the greatest ever upsets, but still finished runners-up of the whole thing.
The Germans fought back to draw 2-2 with Argentina in
the 1986 final in Mexico when the game seemed out of reach. Argentina only
killed them off with a late and wonderfully taken goal. Germany won
the title in 1990 and is in the hunt again this year, which has included a
comeback from two goals down against Yugoslavia.
It all makes me wonder how Bulgaria ever
knocked them out of the last finals 2-1 in the round of the last eight in
USA '94. Germany might not be the most attractive team in the
tournament and they're certainly not the youngest (average age 31.9 years).
But they are the most dogged. Croatia or Romania beckon
in the quarterfinals. Nothing to frighten Germany there. And
after that? Well, would you want to bet against them?
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