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The New Vision, Wednesday, July 7, 2010 SOCCER 47 Loew’s jumper is out of stock DURBAN Football-mad Germans have snapped Spain face a up the “lucky” blue cashmere sweater that German coach Joachim Loew gives partial credit for his side’s World Cup winning streak, a retail chain said Tuesday. The jumpers have flown off the shelves, upscale clothier Strenesse said, with fans having to travel to the neighbouring Netherlands, home of the Germans’ fellow semi-finalists, to get their hands on the massive test talisman Loew has worn at three German victories. “We’re com- pletely out of stock,” a Germany has proved to be a rejuvenated side company spokeswom- an told AFP. DURBAN ment,” he said. The 50-year-old’s Today at 9.30pm, SS3 “They’ve shown a backroom staff have Germany’s Germany v Spain thirst for victory demanded Loew wear abrupt com- that is worthy of the cobalt cashmere in ing of age at world champions.” the semi-final against this World While Germany’s Spain Wednesday, as Cup has caught almost eve- performances have surpassed he has every time ryone by surprise - every- what was expected of them, Germany have scored one that is but their coach Spain have not yet delivered a four goals in a match Joachim Loew. collective display equal to at the finals in wintry Written off as too inexpe- the sum of the individu- South Africa. rienced in the run-up to al talents in their ranks. Loew, who replaced the finals, Loew’s squad There is intense pres- Jurgen Klinsmann will kick off Wednesday’s sure, too, on a group after the 2006 finals, donned the semi-final against Spain as slight of players weighed v-neck in the opening 4-0 humbling of outsiders. down by the burden Australia, the 4-1 destruction of old But it is testimony to the vibrancy of making up for dec- foes England and then the 4-0 humilia- of the performances Loew has ades of under-achieve- tion of Argentina Saturday -- the first overseen in South Africa that no- ment on the interna- time that a team has thrice scored one will regard it as a major shock tional stage. four goals in the finals. He told report- should they end Spain’s dream of The likes of Xavi, ers that “Germany’s miraculous lifting their first World Cup. Andres Iniesta and sweater” might just have magic pow- While outsiders thought they David Villa will be ers. “I am not really superstitious but could see significant weaknesses in acutely aware that, others basically forced me to put it a Germany squad rejuvenated by in terms of pure foot- back on,” the dapper trainer said. an influx of talent from the under- balling ability, the DAVID VILLA “There’s no way I’m changing my 21 side that won last year’s unexepected demise sweater, or even washing it.” European Championship, Loew of Brazil has left Squad No: 7 Despite sweltering temperatures in always felt he would be leading a them head-and-shoul- much of Germany, shoppers cannot competitive group into Africa’s ders above the other Position: get enough of the 199-euro (250-dollar) first World Cup. “I’ve never doubt- teams left in the com- sweater in “Jogi” blue. ed this team’s potential or develop- petition. Forward Age: 28 Birth Date: Dec 3, 1981 The World Cup proved to be a hair-iffic experience COUNTRY: Spain N the style front, the Beckham spotted during 2010 World Cup, the 2002 finals. Height: Owhose curtains close Algerian stars Fawzi 5' 9'' (1.75m) this Sunday, will be remem- Chaouchi and Hassan bered as one that proved to Yebda was the other pair be a game of two halves. that was determined to pro- For the last three weeks, duce some hair-raising the action in South Africa exploits on and off the has proved that, although pitch. footballers are among the Aside from his goalkeep- fashion trendsetters of ing blunder against today, they are also capable Slovenia, Chaouchi must Song of disappointing when it have tried to keep a low comes to hairstyles. striker Djibril Cisse. He is profile but not with the Bendtner’s Cameroon defender never far from any worst poorly-shaven cut he spot- flame-like Rigobert Song, who was hair style list, and 2010 was ted. cut kind of Cisse restricted to the bench no different for the His teammate Yebda’s looked like throughout the Indomitable Panathinaikos striker. bleached barnet was so bad he cut it Lions’ campaign, ensured He made a spectacular bid that if FIFA had a say in himself, he left South Africa for the award of worst hair- player image, he could have while Marek Fawzi noticed. cut with a ridiculous been dismissed from the and Behrami’s Admittedly he wasn’t Mohican cut trimmed from tournament. hair-dos were good enough to appear as a the front to the back. Spiky on top and with screaming. first team player but never While the tournament what appeared to be strands How about Slovenia’s mind the football; you just was still looking for a con- of spaghetti at the back; it Abdelkader Ghezzal? It was had to look at his hair. tender to rank with the also had blonde highlights even more outrageous. Whatever your opinions homemade Mohican that on the sides. He looked as if he had are, it was the worst hair- Cisse unleashed on the From a distance, glass fibres on his head. style at the tournament. unsuspecting public here, Denmark’s Nicklas Serbia’s Milos Krasic Whether it was meant to Ivory Coast forward Bendtner, Switzerland’s needed a long-overdue hair- conceal his old looks, it is Salomon Kalou emerged Valon Behrami and cut while Ivory Coast’s only him and his personal with one that unfortunately Slovakia’s Marek Hamsik Gervinho should adopt a stylist that knows too well. looked more outdated. appeared decent not before novel approach to prema- Yebda Then there was France It was the kind that David you got to spitting distance. ture hair loss..

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