SoccerNews Issue # 08, July 14th 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 SoccerNews # 08/2014 2 World Cup insight German internationals turn night into day After the great victory the German dressing room became overcrowded. Federal Chan- cellor Angela Merkel was accompanied by Federal President Joachim Gauck to lead the triumphant celebrations with the German World Cup champions and the World Cup trophy. National coach Joachim Loew had a bottle of beer in his hand while the players remembered their colleagues, such as the Bender twins, who didn’t make it to the tournament. A photo was taken with the shirt of Marco Reus, then the party began. The German squad and around 35 team staff celebrated heartily at In 2006 they were just “Schweini” and “Poldi” – now they’re Schweinsteiger and Podolski, World Cup Winners (forever). Foto: Firo/Augenklick the hotel on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro until dawn. Germany are football World Cup champions for the fourth time. Loew whispered to him: “Show the world that you are better Via her spokesman Steffen Seibert, Mrs Merkel much earlier With the 1-0 (0-0, 0-0) over Argentina after extra time at the leg- than Messi”. The Munich player, who had been in the starting tweeted: “54, 74, 90 and 2014 – the fourth star, hard fought for endary Maracana Stadium the aim of a team and national coach line-up at the beginning of the World Cup finals but then lost and totally deserved. Congratulations! #GERARG“. And the de- Loew had been achieved, a project started by the German Foot- his place, perfectly controlled a cross from also substituted An- scription from Mr Gauck: “We were on a wave of emotions, the ball Association (DFB) 14 years ago. “World Cup champions at the dre Schuerrle with his chest, before volleying the ball into the joy was great”. In Germany, Monday July 14 had already dawned Maracana as the first European team on the American continent. net for the 1-0 lead and giving Argentina’s goalkeeper Sergio when captain Philipp Lahm received the golden trophy from FIFA It doesn’t get any better”, rejoiced DFB President Wolfgang Niers- Romero no chance. Just as 24 years ago, when the German President Joseph S. Blatter and thrust it skywards. It had finally bach. It was a magic goal by substitute Mario Goetze in the 113th team won 1-0 in Rome, one goal was sufficient against Argen- been accomplished. minute which brought the national team their longed-for aim, the tina to release inconceivable joy. “When you score such a goal, fourth star, in front of 74,738 spectators. When he sent him on, it is like a dream”, said an overjoyed Goetze. SoccerNews # 08/2014 3 Joachim Loew also showed his joy after the triumph over Argentina. He said he had felt “a sense of happiness for eternity“. Mario Goetze scores the goal past Argentine goalkeeper Sergio Romero for the 1-0 victory. Photo: Kunz/Augenklick Photo: Kunz/Augenklick Klose: “It has always been a dream” Even Loew expressed his great joy. The 54-year-old finally shook sive junior concept, started in 2000, has finally paid off, with the off the blemish of having never led the talented team to a title bulk of the new World Cup champions coming from the then “It is simply phenomenal, it’s the icing on the cake, it’s world after the lost 2008 European Championship final, and two semi- founded talent benches of the clubs and the Association. class. It has always been a dream to stand up there and for once final defeats at the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European look down”, said striker Miroslav Klose, who had vacated his Championship. “If anybody has deserved such a high point, With a sixth victory in the seventh World Cup match the DFB position in the team for Goetze in the 88th minute of his 137th then it’s this team. There is only one deserved winner, and that’s also substantiated its position as the currently strongest foot- international match, after the victory ceremony in the stands. them. They have developed incredible team spirit and willpower balling power in the world. The World Cup champions will soon “We are enjoying the moment, it’s unbelievable. Thank you to all during these days. This deep feeling of happiness will remain replace their predecessors Spain from the top spot in the world Germany for the support, we have felt it”, said Bastian Schwein- forever”, stressed Loew, who particularly thanked the Brazilians ranking. The team have been undefeated in 18 games, the lon- steiger, prominent with a cut on his face. for their hospitality and warmth. The entire German Football As- gest series in the Loew era. And the DFB received record prize sociation (DFB) could also be very satisfied that its very expen- money of 25.6 million Euros as the new title holder. The team’s SoccerNews # 08/2014 4 The country and its people Russia prepares for the 2018 World Cup Although the Russian national team had to pack up early after a 1-1 draw in their last group match at the 2014 FIFA World Cup™, they are the first of the 32 participants at the 2018 FIFA World Cup™, as Russia will host the 21st tourna- ment. The preparations are well underway, but several sta- diums still have to be completed. As at the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi at the beginning of the year, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin personally masterminds the progress of the preparations. The infra- structure programmes, costing two-digit Euro billions, are being installed. Four stadiums are being converted, eight newly built. The matches will take place in twelve stadiums in eleven cities. They are Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Sochi, Volgograd, Saransk, Rostov, Samara, Ekatarinburg, Kaliningrad and Nishni Novgorod. There are two stadiums in Moscow. The Lushniki Arena, built for the 1980 Olympic Congratulations by Jerome Boateng (right) to Mario Götze in front of Mario Götze, goal scorer of 1-0 victory, kissing the World Cup Trophy. Summer Games and the largest stadium in Russia, will be the Continental perimeter. Photo: GES/Augenklick Photo: Firo/Augenklick the venue for the opening match and the final. The Spartak Moscow club will get a new stadium. next goal will be to become European champions for the fourth still played with second division VfL Bochum in May 2013, al- time in France 2016, followed by defending their new title at the though he had to be substituted after a clash with Ezeqiel Garay Unlike in Brazil the large distances between the venues 2018 World Cup in Russia. in the 31st minute. have more time differences, due to Russia’s east-west lati- tude. The World Cup organisers dispelled FIFA’s worries that The German team failed to completely fulfil expectations in the “Super sub” Schuerrle, who had previously scored three goals fewer fans could come to Russia because of the large trav- somewhat disappointing final. The Argentinians performed very when sent on, joined the then tactically altered team which elling distances, with the promise that the fast-train system cleverly in the tactical battle which developed in the third en- managed to take Lionel Messi virtually out of the match. How- may be used free. There is also the assurance that all World counter of the two teams in a World Cup final. But in the end the ever, Mats Hummels, previously the safety factor in the DFB de- Cup visitors from foreign countries may enter Russia with- Germans triumphed. Shortly before kick-off there was the bitter fence, encountered problems getting to grips with the “flea”, due out a visa for the tournament from June 8 to July 8, 2018. news that Sami Khedira had to be dropped from the starting to his unbelievable pace. Like the finals in 2006 and 2010, the eleven due to calf problems. Moenchengladbach’s Christoph encounter went into extra time. The Loew team then became Kramer, who had not been nominated for even the extended even more dominant than in regular time; their opponents were World Cup squad in May but was then called up at the last min- totally exhausted when Germany finally received FIFA’s golden ute, and had played just 12 minutes in Brazil, replaced Khedira. trophy in a shower of golden ticker-tape rain. This crowned a sensational advance for the 23-year-old, who SoccerNews # 08/2014 5 Quotes to the World Cup victory Manuel Neuer Joachim Loew, national coach “It is incredible. It is a fantastic experience. We have had a great team spirit since the start, “We have been together for 55 days, but Philipp Lahm, captain when we suffered a few setbacks and lost actually started the entire project ten years players such as the Bender twins and Marco ago. Our great strength was that we consis- Unbelievable what we delivered today over Reus, who are also World Cup champions. tently improved over those years. If anybody 120 minutes, how we have slogged away. The whole of Germany is world champion. I deserved such a high point, it is this team. That distinguishes a team. It doesn’t matter don’t know how long we will celebrate, but There was only one winner, and that was at all whether we have the best individual now we can always stand up with a grin on them.