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Home , Audi Cup, Berti Vogts, Erik Durm, Oliver Bierhoff, Per Mertesacker, Sebastian Rudy

SoccerNews Issue # 10, October 16th 2014

Continental/Division Tires Alexander Bahlmann Phone: +49 511 938 2615 Head of Media & Public Relations PLT E-Mail: [email protected] Buettnerstraße 25 | 30165 Hannover www.contisoccerworld.de Soccer News # 10/2014 2

News Yellow alert in World Cup champions’ country

The euphoria over the World Cup title has evaporated. Three months after the great triumph in Rio de Janeiro the glitter surroun- ding the German national team is fading.

The DFB team hit the hard fact of reality with a 1 - 1 (0-0) draw with Ireland, three days after a 2 - 0 (0 - 0) defeat by Poland in Warsaw. “We’ll hit back again next year”, national coach Joachim Loew promised after the draw in Gelsenkirchen, where conceded the equaliser in the 94th minute after an inexplicably weak final phase. , the President of the German Football Association (DFB), also showed some concern: “It would be exaggerating to say we are shocked. But it is of course totally annoying to concede Disappointment displayed on the faces of Sebastian Rudy, , Thomas Mueller and after the 1-1 draw with Ireland that felt the equaliser with the last action of the match”. like a defeat. (Photo: GES/Augenklick)

At Schalke Arena it became clear that the defeat in Poland even linked the current situation with a recollection of the standings between the players and too many mistakes. During wasn’t a one-off slip-up. In both October matches the German bad times in German football: “It’s rumbling again”. And “” the last eight minutes, including the four-minute added time, domination led to just one goal, with the defence tottering at commented: “They now have four stars on their shirts – but there was absolutely nothing to be seen of the style of neat decisive moments. The interim balance sheet is frustrating: they no longer play four-star football!” passing combinations, praised since 2010. Long, inaccurate The World Cup champions trail with just four points in fourth passes, actually forbidden by Loew, were played. “We did not place in Group D, behind Ireland (7 points), Poland (7) and The announcement by Loew and his players that they would keep calm at the end. In the last minutes we hit twenty long Scotland (4), who were arduously defeated 2-1 in September. easily let forget the defeat by Poland (ranked 70 in the world) passes. We haven’t played that many during the entire season. “Yellow alert in the World Cup champions’ country” read the against the Irish (64th), did not come true. After a combination That’s something I cannot understand”, said , who headline in the football magazine “Kicker”. “Frankfurter Allge- of missed chances and a game without tempo, ideas and had scored for the lead in the 71st minute. That he was the best meine Zeitung” wrote about a “shrivelled fragment of a World clout in Warsaw, in front of 51,000 spectators, the German German player did not prevent him from joining the collective Cup champion”. The online service of the magazine “Spiegel” team, still ranked top in the world, again acted with misunder- sloppiness at the end. Soccer News # 10/2014 3

Loew’s change is more painful than expected The change planned by Loew in the run-up to the 2016 UEFA European Championship, “That was naïve”, said Loew, criticising the is more complicated and more painful than abandonment of his tactical guidelines. “In expected. There are many reasons why the principle we had already gained the three start to the qualification went totally wrong points. But then we lacked courage and hid after the 4-2 loss to Argentina in the interna- ourselves”, said team captain . tional friendly in Dusseldorf. On top of the “My shot could not be saved by the world’s retirements of , Mirolav Klose best goalkeeper. That was a great moment”, and there were the injuries rejoiced John O’Shea, the Irish scorer, who of , , Marco gained the better of defender . Reus, Benedikt Hoewedes and Mesut Oezil. The World Cup champion was totally frustrated. Prior to the match against Ireland, defeated “I will be blamed”, Hummels said, but Loew 6-1 and 3-0 in the last World Cup qualification, suggested the entire defensive line-up was at and Andre Schuerrle fell ill fault when the goal was conceded. with flu. The World Cup substitutes Erik Durm, , and newcomer Antonio Ruediger were not yet ready to step into the larger shoes. Veteran Lukas Podolski acted as disappointingly as with Arsenal FC. And the remaining World Cup champions of World Cup bronze medallists Netherland is challenged by Iceland’s Birkir Bjarnason. The Oranje Neuer, Hummels, Kroos, Jerome Boateng and team lost 2-0 in Reykjavik. (Photo: Getty Images) Thomas Mueller failed to fulfil Loew’s demand to become new “alpha wolves”. When the pre- News viously harmless Irish played up at the end, nobody sent visible signals of active resistance to his team-mates. World Cup jet lag for top favou- only four points from three matches, in the rites – major crisis at Oranje Netherlands the clock shows “2 before 12” as Prior to the match Loew had said: “The strain Arjen Robben alarmingly stated. for the players is at the absolute limit”. Hardly any of the World Cup champions, except Kroos, They can’t thank enough in Hol- After a 2-0 defeat in Iceland the Dutch papers reached his best level. “You have the feeling land. The President of the European Football described a “catastrophe” and “postman foot- some players are lacking mental freshness, Association (UEFA) had decisively pressed ahead ball”. The World Cup bronze medallists are speed, dynamics and decisiveness”, disclosed with the increase of the European Champion- already trailing six points behind Iceland and the national coach. He will rest the stars for ship finals to 24 teams despite many queries the Czech Republic in Group A. Consequently the last European qualifier of the year against about the sense of the qualifying stage. Now, the new “Bondscoach” , who “midgets” Gibraltar in November. Further wins after just three rounds, the cumbersome obli- had led the “Elftal” into the 1998 World Cup should then follow in 2015. The European gatory task has become a sporting struggle semi-finals, has been heavily criticised at the Toni Kroos was the best German player, who scored Championship ticket is not yet endangered for survival for many favourites. There have start of his second term, with three defeats for the 1-0 lead against Ireland, but at the end contri- after the bad start, but it is not far from yellow never before been so many upsets in the first from four matches. It’s fortunate that the buted to the equaliser with a mistake. to red alert. few matches. Not only are World Cup champions third-placed teams now retain a chance to (Photo: GES/Augenklick) Germany suffering from World Cup jet lag with qualify for France with the change of system. Soccer News # 10/2014 4

The Dutch are in good company, however. Reigning European champions Spain suffered an embarrassing 2-1 defeat in Slovakia in Group C, costing former “Goalkeeper of the World” Iker Casillas his regular place. The Spanish fans were hardly recon- ciled with the follow-up 4-0 win in Luxembourg. With six points the Iberians are placed second behind the Slovaks.

The Swiss also failed to convince with two defeats in Group E, before San Marino became the right opponents to build up confidence producing a 4-0 victory. Switzerland’s new coach Vladimir Petkovic, the successor to , is already under pressure. Slovenia and Lithuania are Switzerland’s rivals for the European Championship ticket, for group leaders Eng- land are already too far ahead with nine points, even though their 1-0 over Estonia, with Wayne Rooney scoring the winner, was anything but brilliant.

Dull but successful, the Italians are managing their obligatory The San Marino syndrome: few roads, lots of cars and few accidents. (Photo: Alaexis) programme. After a 2-1 win over Azerbaijan, coached by former German national coach , and a 1-0 in Malta, the Did you know ... “Squadra Azzurra” are on track for the European Champion- territory. Founded in the year 301, the world’s oldest republic ship finals with nine points in Group H, as are Croatia. Norway is only about half the size of Kiel in Germany or Cardiff, the are also contenders with six points. Fifteen-year-old Martin … that San Marino has the best road safety capital of Wales. Oedegaard made his debut during the 2-1 win over Bulgaria record in the world? thus becoming the youngest player ever in a European So are the Sammarinese better drivers than the rest of us? Championship qualification. Perhaps they are. However, a realistic look reveals that a com- You could be forgiven for believing that accidents are common parison with other much more densely populated states doesn’t Portugal changed their coach after a 1-0 loss to Albania. They where traffic is heavy, but San Marino provides the ultimate quite hold water; as San Marino only has a population of 31,000, achieved the turn-around under the new man, Fernando Santos, proof that you’d be wrong: this micro-state surrounded entirely the accident rate in absolute figures is correspondingly low. with a 1-0 in Denmark – thanks to World Footballer of the Year by Italy has the most cars per head anywhere in the world. But perhaps even more decisive is the fact that the more pros- (90th+5). But the cancellation of the match Statistically, there are a staggering 1.3 automobiles for each perous inhabitants of this former tax haven hardly ever drive between Serbia and Albania produced the largest headlines in individual Sammarinese, as listed in the World Health Organi- their second or third cars on public roads. Countries like Liechten- Group I. When a drone carrying a pan-Albanian flag flew over zation’s “Global status report on road safety 2013”. If you include stein or Luxembourg boast similar statistics. the stadium in Belgrade violence erupted. all other vehicles such as motorcycles and buses in the statis- tics, the rate of vehicles per inhabitant in the tiny enclave to the Incidentally, it appears that initially nobody ever anticipated The European Championship qualification is also proving bumpy south of Rimini actually rises to 1.7. In comparison, the average more than 40,000 cars being registered in San Marino. As a for World Cup participants Greece and Bosnia-Herzegovina. ratio in Germany is a mere 0.5 cars per inhabitant. Yet despite result, in 1975 there was what amounted to a traffic policy revo- Both are still without a win after three matches in Group F and B. the high density of motor vehicles present, the number of seri- lution, because when the 9,999th vehicle was registered, the Germany are not alone with their troubles. ous road accidents is so microscopic that it is quite literally in- existing 4-digit system meant they ran out of license plates. visible: the WHO report shows there was not a single fatal road The problem was resolved by adding a letter in front of the accident in the entire 61 square kilometers of the micro-state’s numbers or, in some cases, a fifth digit. Soccer News # 10/2014 5

ALLEZ BOOM!

The Cookie Conspiracy

What’s that biscuit doing in the picture – or disguised as a cookie in the headline, come to that? Amazingly, it’s at the heart of a super-secret European Championship conspiracy uncovered in the nick of time by your diligent scribe. Read on, but under- cover – or at least under the blanket … by Freddy Boom

Ssssh. Softly, softly … I’m typing this on a muffled keyboard. We’re dealing with stuff so confidential it has big red “Top Secret” stamps all over it (presumably to attract attention). And to keep the National SoccerNews Anti-espionage (NSA) office off our backs, we’re now all going to act totally innocent. Ready? Tralala, trala- lee, humdeedum … OK, I don’t think anyone’s listening in, so Captured cookie: ’s biscuit. (Photo: Freddy Boom) here’s the story: As special envoy for state secrets at your favou- rite SoccerNews editorial office, I managed to dig my way deep into the archives of the German FA (code name: DFB). Bayern (code name: FCB) ambassador of R&R Josep memories and recall all those – presumably voluntary – pre- How? Never you mind. But let me say this: by comparison, Guardiola. Similar tones were to be heard from the Department season kickabouts that our leading clubs engaged in, not all Frodo’s pilgrimage through Mordor was like taking Fido out for of the Offensive at FCB, headed up by Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, that long ago. Let me see, there was the Cup, the Telekom a quick walk before Match of the Day. And what did I find in and from that arch-advocate of laid-back coaching-zone life- Cup, the SuperCup, the Uli Hoeness Cup, the Dog-and-Whistle the DFB catacombs? Two things: first up, Oliver Bierhoff’s bis- styles, ’s Jürgen Klopp. Charity Cup … and so on and so forth. Didn’t FCB jet off to the cuit. Yep, the genuine article. The “that-really-takes-the-biscuit” US on a pre-season jaunt to help their oh-so-exhausted World biscuit. That, you’ll doubtless recall, was how the manager of Well, as not just a journa- but also a rea-list, I’d love to hear this Cup winners recharge their batteries by losing to a US All Stars Germany’s national team, all het-up and flushed with righteous prominent panel explain how the beloved nation is supposed team in Portland? Switch to merry olde England and the pic- anger, responded to claims from the football league (code to reach the finals of a European Championship without ture was much the same. Before the season name: ) that the players were “on overload”, i.e. ex- playing in the qualifiers? (Not everyone can qualify as host). got under way, the top teams happily dispatched their stars pected to play too many matches. It would make sense, they Although given the recent results of Germany’s qualifiers, get- to contest the Emirates Cup, Absolute Sports Travel Cup, the argued, to reduce the number of international fixtures. “We’re ting to Paris might not be the God-given right that everyone Community Shield and The-One-And-Only-Magic-Mystery- asking too much of the players. We’re killing them,” moaned assumed in advance. But let me also rewind our collective Mourinho-Cup. Outcome? Complaints at national team level of Soccer News # 10/2014 6

Quotes of the day

I’m not angry. I’m seething inside.

Netherlands manager Guus Hiddink after the 2:0 defeat at the hands of Iceland. Arjen Robben, Dutch striker and amateur Icelandic volcano.

players feeling “a little tired”. What did former But back to the topic of overload – and boy do dayamean you never watch Sesame Street?). Albania? Or Turkey lose to just about everyone? England star Alan Shearer have to I know my way around this particular subject. Now I know why Germany lost 2:0 to Poland and They’ve got wind of Plan B. Although in the about that? “The working man who is up at Good old Boom is quite accustomed to typing only drew 1:1 with Ireland. And it has everything case of the Netherlands there could be wider- 6 a.m. and home at 8 p.m. does not want to his fingers to the bone. I’ve torn a cartilage in to do with Bierhoff’s biscuit, which is actually reaching social factors affecting the perfor- hear about how tired a 19-year-old professional my index finger and am still recovering from no more than a crumbly-crunchy decoy. Be- mance of the national team. Just recently there footballer is.” So there. At least – and this needs a hamstring injury in the frontal lobes of the cause Plan B is to deliberately miss out on quali- were reports that, in the small town of Wijchen saying – Continental lives up to its respon- brain, not to mention a stress fracture at the fying for Paris, so that the nation’s fagged out in Gelderland Province, all the traffic islands sibilities as a football sponsor by NOT staging base of the spine. And you, dear reader, as one flock of footballers can bounce back onto the were painted bright pink. A council employee a Conti Cup. Instead they’ve invested the funds of Shearer’s working men, can surely sympa- stage in the summer of 2016 and steamroller had ordered the wrong colour and, never a in refining your favourite centre of SoccerNews thize. But do we complain? No we don’t. Even straight through the World Cup qualifiers that critical bunch, the workmen simply used what excellence – only yesterday they were putting if we did, no one would listen. So we press on autumn without so much as an ache or twinge. they were given. But before the local Christopher- down platinum linoleum in our editorial offices. regardless. Remember I said I found TWO things Street-Day organization committee had time And I have the pleasure and privilege of putting in those dusty DFB archives? Well, pull the blinds But hang on a minute; it looks like I’m not the to clap their hands in glee, some dull official my finely spun thoughts to paper on a key- down and make sure the guy at the next desk only one to get his hands on the top secret ordered ten pots of “cool asphalt” and the street board decorated with gold leaf – presumably can’t see your screen, because (continuing in Bierhoff-Löw protocols. Somehow they seem scene was back to grey in grey. Translated into a leaf straight out of the book of Finer Inter- a conspiratorial whisper) just guess what I got to have found their way to Holland, Spain and – football tactics: do we show a bit of spirit, take national Financial Acrobatics (code name: FIFA). my hands on? Nothing less than Jogi Löw’s most obviously – Turkey. Why else did Robben a few risks? Nah. Not likely. Which is actually a Garçon!? Bring me another Beluga mochito! Plan B. “Plan B!?” I hear you squeak. “Riiiiight,” I & Co. lose to Iceland? Or Spain nose-dive in pretty effective route to Plan B. Bright orange reply in sneaky Lefty-the-Salesman-speak (wad- Slovakia? Or Portugal surrender at home to shirts in Paris? I think not. Soccer News # 10/2014 7

Once you leave Iceland’s main Ring Road, you won’t encounter much traffic. (Photo: Promote Iceland) Many roads in Iceland are in a perilous state, so it helps to have a power- ful vehicle. (Photo: Reinhard Dietrich)

smooth, asphalted “Hringvegur”, or Ring Road No. 1. You might get to places where it would be impossible to take a wheeled Did you know ... say that this road is the world’s biggest roundabout: it begins vehicle. in Reykjavík and follows the coastline for 1,336 kilometers, ser- … that elves are consulted before road ving almost all the island’s major towns before returning to where The Icelandic road network has now grown to about 13,000 kilo- construction starts in Iceland? it started. There aren’t many other tarmac roads in Iceland; meters, but it isn’t always easy to build a new road in Iceland. two-thirds of the network consists of treacherous gravel tracks, The local people frequently stage demonstrations against so a car journey through the stark volcanic terrain becomes a road construction projects that threaten the country’s natural Iceland is the surprise team in the European Championship quali- slow and arduous adventure. However, the inhospitable basalt heritage. Unlike elsewhere, though, the Icelanders don’t demon- fiers so far. 3:0 against Turkey, 3:0 in Latvia, and now 2:0 against wilderness was exactly what US astronaut Neil Armstrong, the strate for migrating toads or protected species of rare birds, the Dutch. In fact the away teams, Turkey and the Netherlands, first man on the moon, was looking for to prepare for his lunar but for elf rights. In 2014, plans to build a new road in the small found themselves in hot water three times on match day: once landing. But while NASA couldn’t have found a more authentic town of Garðabær had the locals up in arms. There was a large on the pitch, once en route to the stadium before the game, testing ground anywhere else in the world, the terrain that chunk of lava rock on the planned route, which the Highway and once on the way back to the hotel. The team bus to the enabled Armstrong to take “one small step for a man, one giant Construction Authority wanted to remove to make way for stadium in Reykjavík passes through a bleak, infernal landscape leap for mankind” used to be a major challenge for the Ice- the road. However, according to local legend the rock, which with craggy mountain ranges, steaming geysers and bubbling landers. The ruts and fissures in the rocky ground made travel weighs several tons, is an elf church that must on no account pools of foul-smelling sulfurous mud. But at least the football so difficult that for many years the only reliable way of trans- be destroyed. After a series of major protests, the opposing pros didn’t have to bump along one of Iceland’s countless porting people and goods was by Icelandic horse, an object of parties agreed that the elfin rock should be moved by crane dirt roads to get to the stadium. Instead they sped along the national pride for the island nation. Horses could and still can to a different location.