Author: Graham Laight
Date: 07:39:33 09/02/01
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I am prepared to forgive Bruce, because, being American, he's not been fully exposed to the real passion that the rest of the world feels about soccer (although my colleagues in our California office seem to understand). Last night's result was truly historic. Germany were expected to win, and thereby gain automatic entry into next year's world cup. The bookmakers were offering far bigger odds on Germany winning than England. Germany were unbeaten in the group. Germany were on their home soil. I regard Kahn, the German goalkeeper as the best in the world, wheras our own goalkeeper, David Seaman, is too old at 38. At the start of the game, England were stiff, and their passing loose. Germany took advantage of this, and went one ahead, with a soft goal. However - this seemed to suddenly galvanise England, who started wanting to fight (metaphorically speaking). Then suddenly, the German defence (which was horribly immobile throughout the game, it has to be said), failed in an offside trap, and 4 England players were facing Kahn. The ball fell to the brilliant Liverpool striker Michael Owen, and it was 1:1. I was elated at this point. At least we were going to get a proper game - even if Germany do tend to win the close encounters. As the referee blew for half time, a German defender fouled and England player, and the referee allowed a free kick. From the free kick, the ball fell to Gerrard who, with the last kick of the ball in the 1st half, and with immaculate timing, blasted the ball into the bottom right - 1:2. To be fair, England were lucky in many ways. However - the luck was made good use of, and in the 2nd half it was soon 1:4 as the brilliant Michael Owen made up his "hat trick" (3 goals in one game). To finish a truly splendid evening of sport, Scholes passed to Heskey, who made it 1:5. On the drive home, I saw an unusual number of England flags flying. The World Cup qualifying position is transformed. With England four goals ahead of Germany in goal difference, there is now a possibility that it might be England who take the automatic qualifying place - and it might be Germany who have to go into the playoffs. The last time Germany lost a World Cup qualifying game was in 1985. The last time England beat Germany on German soil was in 1965 - and the year after, we gained our only ever world cup victory. A truly magnificent and historical game. September 1 2001 - a night to remember forever! Bruce doesn't understand any of this. How could he possibly? Here, for all those who do understand - a true delicacy: the "Das Bild" report on the game translated by Alta Vista: A historical tracht Pruegel! And none has itself resisted... Of walter M. STRATEN, VIM VOMLAND, WOLFGANG RUINER and INGO GRUENPETER Germany: Asamoah (46.) for Woerns, Klose (67.) for Ballack, Kehl (78) for Neuville England: McManaman (starting from 65.) for Barmby, Hargreaves (78) for Gerrard, Carragher (83.) for Scholes Oh NO, which for a terrible low impact! We wanted to make the WM qualification perfect against England. Instead it set a historical tracht Pruegel for Rudi Voellers crew. 1:5 in the olympia stadium. to seize not! Munich 2001 belongs now into the number of unforgettable battles Germany. England such as Wembley 1966 or Leon 1970. The classical author of Munich however had a super+bitter end for us. The bad 1:5 were only our second defeat in 61. WM Qualifikationsspiel (beforehand 0:1 against Portugal 1985). Just as painfully: Our last home defeat against England was nevertheless eternally for a long time ago (0:1 in Nuernberg 1965)... A short view, a long step, Carsten Jancker presses the ball to torwart Seaman to the 1:0 for Germany in the gate thereby tingled nevertheless beforehand so a wonderful football atmosphere in the bangful olympia stadium. The fans had a temperature, the large ones like Franz basin farmer or Boris Becker (had to be!) discussed. Many expected a tactical, cautious play. of because of! Our dream start! 7. Minute: Ballack flankt cream-tenderly from left. At the strafraum Neuville the ball nods into the run of the starting Jancker. That ticks the ball with the sole at the rauslaufenden torwart Seaman past in the gate. 1:0, go marvelously loosely! Owens first gate it takes off volley. it is to 1:1. Woerns comes much to late the high-speed shock! 13. Minute: Our guidance already again futsch! Scholes cuts back a repelled ball back before the gate our defense plays on offside. Barmby (not in the offside) squirts to the ball, cuts back it before punt crosswise. and there Owen shoots in the abandoned gate, 1:1. Komm, come!. Rudi Voeller called encouraging on the field. But only the Englishmen came. Powerfully. Now our defensive players were much too far from wire-pullers such as Beckham or Gerrard. And the swimming celebration in our defense already began... Physicians fought for the life of father Voeller Owen ran links away, slammed a long pass of Beckham volley past (24.). Punt threw itself on a dangerous back pass of Deisler (30.). Beckham from seven meters slammed the freistoss into the stomach of Rehmer (in the wall on the line). Football comment Voeller looked badly. Which he did not suspect: In these minutes its father on the grandstand broke down. Read in addition the report on the next page. 45. Minute: Again and again Beckham (of because of border violation!). After its flank a glass-hard shot of Gerrard from 20 meters. Fit exactly left down. 1:2! Involuntary stringer agony position of Beckham, about which all female fans could be pleased: It had to change its torn trousers for Die guidance of the Englishmen is earned. found Lothar Matthaeus on the grandstand complete. Andy Brehme nodded: Absolut, those are much stronger in the centre zone. Was correct also after the break. England many more agressiver, with mad wing play. And class gates. 48. Minute: Again Beckham... its flank presented Heskey by heading for Owen, hit in the short hits a corner. 1:3. 66. Minute: Ballack verdaddelte against Gerrard, pass to Owen. The outstanding Liverpooler slammed hard over punt in the gate and our hearts: No, 1:4! Why did none resist there? It became still worse: Heskey after Scholes pass freely to the 1:5 (74.). Speechless our eleven, Rudi Voeller and the fans looked too. Thousands of Englishmen however sang and sang. A low-sad day for the German football! Just to show the relevancy to computer chess, it's like Shredder beating Junior, expecting to easily win - then suddenly, in a quite unexpected manner - it all starts to go the other way.
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