World Cup, Day 10: 'Here.......Comes Germany!'

6/23/2018

Thanks to Hannah Mckay of Reuters for this gorgeous shot

That's exactly what I said in the final frantic minutes of Germany-Sweden.

Like watching some great beast of a thoroughbred like Secretariat turn on the burners into the home stretch. You know it is in there.

Like watching Bill Russell lock eyes with K.C. Jones with a few minutes left.
(Sorry for the dated references, but I have my sporting examples-for-life.)

'They never give up. They never get an attitude.'

I said that to my wife in the TV den on Saturday afternoon, watching the defending champions play with a man down -- dumb foul by Boateng, but they did not let it kill them.

I am doing my watching in our den this week; no pubs right now, no crowds. My wife watches with me, here and there. She witnessed Zidane's final in '98, in the Stade de France, down low, at that end, for his two headers; that would make anybody a fan for life.

Germany was in desperate condition Saturday, down by a goal. A draw would barely keep it alive, but then Germany scored in the 48th minute, and then attacked in the final 13 minutes of regulation and stoppage time, one man down, going for it, going for it. And Toni Kroos put in a perfect curling shot from a hard angle on the left side. Talent and will.

I've seen them over the last nine World Cups -- relentless, talented, smart, with only one really nasty play that sticks in my mind -- Toni Schumacher's ugly mugging of Patrick Battiston in 1982.

World Cup soccer should be viewed beyond old national stereotypes. I've watched them win a World Cup in 1990 as West Germany and another in 2014 as Germany, and do not equate the team with ancient history or the admirable western democracy it is today, with its beautiful anthem, music by Haydn.

The football pitch is a place onto itself. In the modern imbalance of soccer talent and expertise and confidence and money, Germany is the old New York Yankees, with Yogi swinging from his ankles, the old Montreal Canadiens (who still ought to be seeded into the finals of the Stanley Cup ever year), the old Notre Dame.

They may lose, even to relentless and physical South Korea on Wednesday. But don't ever count them out. Not when they are a goal down, or a player down. Like a horse race: "Here...comes Germany."

Andrew Sollinger

6/23/2018 06:53:12 pm

I thought the Germans missed their chance after the Swedish keeper deflected a sharp header over the crossbar at the end of regulation. But Kroos bent it like Ronaldo. Agree that Germany = Yankees.

George Vecsey

6/23/2018 10:18:01 pm

Hi, Andrew, nice to see you at the park today.
It was a great save by the Swedish keeper.
Comparison with Yankees. When I started covering Yankees a bit (1960) Casey Stengel raved about his new man, Maris, not for his power but because "He goes from first to third, and always hits the right base" Maris played the game right.....apt comparison.
Enjoy upcoming games....GV

Mendel

6/24/2018 02:31:29 am

Still learning about this beautiful game, but whispered "trick shot" before Kroos's delicate touch. Controlling 75% of possessions will put any team in position to win. Kroos notched 144 touches in contrast with Messi's 50 in Argentinian humiliation to Croatia. Gotta be in it to win it.

George

6/24/2018 07:20:36 am

Mendel:, well said. Did you see Rory Smith's piece on Argentina? Explains Messi's lack of touches. GV

Brian Savin

6/24/2018 03:55:19 pm

I'm looking forward to this upcoming last round of group play. This morning we hosted a family of good friends who lived in England for decades (summers in Connecticut) for full English breakfast. Told them we were honored they chose our pub for the match. England-Belgium is set up as a spectacular show.

I'm particularly interested in tomorrow's Russia-Uruguay to see how good the home team may be.

As to others, good luck to Iceland on Tuesday...theyll need it against Croatia. Mexico-Sweden on Wednesday - Sweden may be good enough to recover their bearings which were at sea at the end of that last match. Thursday's Senegal-Columbia should be as spirited and even more decisive as England-Belgium on Thursday. Fun. What was not fun was watching Poland play 1950's European soccer just now.

Andy Tansey

6/24/2018 05:44:33 pm

With the score 1-1 until the final "trick play," I was wondering to myself, "Will Mexico and Sweden waltz?" Wasn't it Germany and Austria that did so back in the day? Doesn't matter any more! Now Sweden are up against it, though anything is mathematically possible in this incredible group!

I love Kroos's little pass to himself in a slightly better position, at a better angle, throwing off the sturdy and disciplined Swedish defense. Have wondered why it's not used more often. I have sentiment in favor of Sweden, but it was with very mixed emotions as Germany are too good to be out, in many senses. They respect the game.

George Vecsey

6/25/2018 12:37:25 pm

Andy, yes, 1982, first round, Germany and Austria waltzed to the result that worked for both, screwing Algeria, as I recall. FIFA, in a rare moment of doing the right thing, started simultaneous third games the next World Cup, to cut down on shenanigans of teams knowing what they need to advance. But with electronics more urgent every time, teams know. The US, getting whupped by Poland, knew right away that S. Korea had gone ahead of Portugal in 70th minute...and held on. I was there. somebody had a phone on the sidelines, as I recall. GV

George Vecsey

6/25/2018 12:39:20 pm

I meant to add, that was 2002. Park scored for S.K.

Altenir J. Silva

6/24/2018 06:33:46 pm

Dear George,
I liked your statement that Germany is the old Yankees. In the same way, I think Cristiano Ronaldo is the new Derek Jeter because of his life in and out of the game. This man deserves to get on his hands the FIFA World Cup Trophy. I’m rooting for him.
Best. Altenir

George Vecsey

6/25/2018 12:41:59 pm

Dear Altenir: I'm curious about the comparison between Jeter and CR7.
CT7 is so much more flamboyant than Jeter, it seems to me, factoring out the differences between the two sports. Jeter presented himself as a team guy; CR7 seems to be flaming ego. But there is probably something I'm missing....G

Altenir J. Silva

6/25/2018 02:25:08 pm

Dear George,
I was referring to the charity work of him. His good things out of the game, like Jeter. Take a look at this. http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/cristiano-ronaldo-amazing-charity-work-real-madrids-superstar-4053752

George Vecsey

6/25/2018 09:21:59 pm

Altenir, thanks so much. I did not know that about CR7.....those personal reactions to misfortune indicate a real person is in there.
I gather he does have tax issues, and his on-field persona is what it is, but now I will think of him in a more complex way.
Muito bem, meu amigo

bruce

6/25/2018 01:01:28 pm

altenir,

ronaldo is lightning in a bottle. best pure goal scorer of his time--and in the top handful ever.

however, i don't love him. always seems like a prima donna. shocked him to be suspended for five games for shoving a referee at the start of the past season..

dives way toooooo much. that's, as george knows, my pet peeve about soccer--that and penalty kicks to decide a game.

i prefer the hockey way....sudden death until somebody scores.

see the spanish tax man caught up to ronaldo as well.

think it was $21,800,000 USD, if memory serves.

bruce

Altenir J. Silva

6/25/2018 02:27:42 pm

Dear Bruce, as I said to George, I was referring to the charity work of CR7. Take a look at this: http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/cristiano-ronaldo-amazing-charity-work-real-madrids-superstar-4053752

bruce

6/25/2018 03:41:44 pm

altenir,

i read it. very impressive.

i recently saw a video of him, from japan i think, telling the audience to shush up when a young boy was trying to speak portuguese to him.

some of them started to laugh at the kid's efforts and ronaldo chastised them--in english.

bruce

Joel Gardner

6/24/2018 09:51:06 pm

Yes, but . . .

Sweden had the ball and a breakaway with about a minute to go, then, instead of pulling the ball back and/or heading for a corner to kill time, the Swedish player took a soft and easy shot, which was grabbed effortlessly by Neuer.

In our household we refer to a play like that by the name of a lacrosse player from Johns Hopkins (my wife's alma mater) who, with a minute or less to go in a postseason game against Princeton, couldn't resist a shot at an empty goal, the goalie being occupied chasing a double-tesm. He missed. Princeton got the ball, scored to tie the game, then won it in overtime.

So it was with Sweden. Take thirty seconds off the clock, and the whistle blows before Kroos draws the foul and takes the free kick. Yes, the Germans finally played like the Germans, having adjusted the lineup, and they could easily now stay hot. But the Swedish player who took that shot deserves some of the credit--blame--for their win.

George Vecsey

6/25/2018 12:47:18 pm

Dear Joel Gardner, absolutely right. I'm always surprised by players who fire a shot when they could invite the whistles from the mob and spurn back-passing to the keeper or a lone defender somewhere.
My Rio friend compared CR7 to Derek Jeter; you mention lacrosse. As an old Hofstra guy, I love the sport (never played it) and in fact we know people who played lax for both schools. As I recall, an offensive coach like Howdy Myers at Hofstra had guys who could kill many seconds by taking a little jog into a corner and open up the field. Care to mention the year? I'll run it past my friend who played for Hopkins. GV

bruce

6/25/2018 01:12:58 pm

george,

a few things....you and i have talked about germany and their ability to just keep on coming.

no matter where they're ranked they always seem to be there.

i've said for years they deserve to be called the best, not brazil. they have one less world cup title but have appeared in--if memory serves--nine finals.

i felt the same way you did. sweden looked desperate to hold the lead and laid back too much. i thought it inevitable that germany would at least tie it. when they tied it, i thought they'd win tho perhaps not as late as they did. helluva kick.

as for lacrosse, it is officially canada's game, not hockey.

i covered it as a sports reporter. willie plett and mike french were stars playing box lacrosse which what hockey rinks are often used for in the summer. no field lacrosse that i know of.

french went on to great things tho i forget which university gave him a scholarship--cornell? plett went on to a decent nhl career.

jimmy brown was an all american in lacrosse, i believe.

i think i somewhere many years ago that he was a better lacrosse player than a football guy.

that size and speed would've made absolutely frightening in box lacrosse. so too, i assume, in field lacrosse.

he was also syracuse's convert/FG guy too, no?

the england/belgium game will be interesting. both have eight goals for and two against.

haven't googled the above, but think i'm close to right. don't like to google for stuff like this. seems like cheating.

bruce

George Vecsey

6/25/2018 09:27:37 pm

Bruce, 2 things: Jim Brown may have been the greatest lacrosse player ever. (I live in the town next to his Manhasset.) He could hold a ball against his chest indefinitely (with a stick, obviously)....and withstand whackings....He played 3 sports in the spring -- lacrosse, baseball and track and field. My friend pitched to him, said he was strong and eager, and could be gotten out.

Our son was watching the Spain/:Portugal DH today at our house, and, hockey buff that he is, he compared the writhings of Portugal and Iran to hockey players. His words were, "Hockey player gets speared in the spleen and won't show pain, til he gets a few stitches between periods." Imagine Gordie Howe rolling on the ice like these mugs? Still, I love the sport, but I think it's overboard in this WC,

bruce

6/25/2018 09:35:38 pm

george,

I've read he was the best ever in lacrosse, but don't know enough about it to know if it was true.

I believe he was in football for sure tho rice was named the best when they did some rankings a while back.

if memory serves brown ran 9.6 in the hundred yards when the record was 9.3 or so.

no clue what is now....hmmm. think I'll look it up.

the mile too. used to know both in those halcyon pre metric days.

your son is obviously a perceptive fellow.

bruce

Alan Rubin link

6/25/2018 10:22:05 pm

My friend played lacrosse for Tufts and had to defend against Jimmy Brown. He said that Jim was impossible to cover. He used a shortened attack stick and Would shoot with power with a flick of the wrist.

Tuft's goalie had red welts all over his chest after the game even with a protector. Jim would defiantly have been a greater star in a professional pro lacrosse league, much more than he was in football.

A college friend was a high school lineman who played against Brown. The line was told to trip up Brown so that the backfield could tackle him. It did not work very often.

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---Vic Caretti, 47, whose father recently died of Covid at 85.
---From an article by Paula Span, who covers old age for the NYT, which currently has 2646 comments, the majority criticizing the American public – and public officials – for acting as if the pandemic is “over.”
Classic wishful thinking, at a lethal level.
Please see:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/11/health/covid-pandemic-seniors.html

World Cup, Day 10: 'Here.......Comes Germany!'

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