SoccerNews Issue # 4, July 4th 2016 Continental/Division Tires Buettnerstraße 25 | 30165 Hannover Alexander Bahlmann Phone: +49 511 938 2615 Lukas Podolski (left) played his first tournament Head of Communications & E-Mail: [email protected] match against Slovakia. He said he enjoys every Public Relations PLT www.contisoccerworld.de moment at EURO 2016. Photo: Imago SoccerNews # 4/2016 2 News Football Association (DFB) is one of the youn- gest with an average age of just over 25 years. But right from kick-off a very clever, strong Löw the fire- fighting Italian team presented themselves with a 2-0 win over Belgium. Since the “Azzurri” then ousted the 2008 and 2012 European champi- extinguisher ons Spain 2-0 in the first knock-out stage, there has been no doubt about the extra class of Germany’s next opponents. Back in 2006 Italy won the World Cup title from a similar initial Italy remain the most feared op- position. Prior to the World Cup in Germany a ponents for the German national sporting disaster had also been predicted for the Italians. team, for they have never won a major tournament encounter Loew loves the big games with the most pressure against the “Azzurri“. If the World Loew’s message to the media reads: The hot Cup champions defeat the Itali- and cold coverage, moulding the attitude of the millions of fans in Germany, is too diver- ans, they would meet the winner gent for my liking. The cool man from Freiburg of the match between France considers it excessive in both directions, sug- gesting that his team was almost ousted from and Iceland in the semi-finals. the tournament after the goalless draw with The other two quarter-final fix- Poland, but then again super after the 3-0 over Scene from the Italian EURO 2012 2-1semi-final win over Germany: Mesut Oezil (centre) battles with Slovakia. With all respect towards Slovakia, tures are Poland v Portugal and Giorgio Chiellini (left) and Daniele de Rossi. Photo: Imago Loew emphasised: “They were a non-standard Wales v Belgium. opponent. You shouldn’t make too much of this victory. We knew we would beat Slovakia.” Italy”, Loew stressed, adding that totally diffe- 16, Loew preached the same virtues as his Ita- The world champions had to be prepared initi- Before the media fire up the topic for days and rent players from previous encounters would lian colleague. For Antonio Conte, 46, who will ally for France, Italy and Spain. The threat from hours until the kick-off, German national coach play in Bordeaux. “It’s cold coffee to me. I look give up the national team after the tournament “La Roja”, however, has been cancelled by the Joachim Loew has unpacked his fire extingu- forward to a fresh espresso. We have to make and take over Chelsea FC, also keenly remin- Italians, who ousted the stars from Madrid and isher and explained in plain German: The Ger- sure that we like it on Saturday”, said Loew. ded his players that nothing has been achieved Barcelona. man national team is not burdened with an Ita- Confidence to end the negative series against yet. His team started EURO 2016 under a diffe- ly complex, and the World Cup champions are the Italians, after eight tournament matches rent prognosis than the reigning World champi- Loew loves the matches in which the classic greatly looking forward to the European Cham- without a win since 1970, is also great among ons. Conte is coaching the “least talented team” major football nations meet each other, espe- pionship quarter-finals in Bordeaux on Satur- the German players, not least because they Italy has ever sent to a major tournament, the cially in a tournament. He relishes the maxi- day (21hrs CEST). The 56-year-old is not trou- enjoyed a 4-1 victory in their friendly match in Italian media pronounced. mum pressure, as now with the duel between bled by the fact that no German national team Munich on March 29. However, the dictate of the two four-time World Cup champions. It is has ever defeated the “Azzurri” in European or the hour is humility. At a press conference two The average age of Conte’s men is over 31; the kismet that Italy of all teams are now the first World Cup finals. “We are not traumatised by days after the 3-0 over Slovakia in the round of European Championship squad of the German category A opponents. For it is the country SoccerNews # 4/2016 3 News team, the “All Blacks”. Emotional celebrations more questions because he was so sweet”. were also held in Iceland’s capital Reykjavik. Grinning broadly Podolski replied: “Then why Schadenfreude-celebration “Our country is upside-down. This is a proud don’t you take my number?” Then he returned Schadenfreude is mostly expressed quietly. moment we will remember for the rest of our to the dressing room. He had earlier disclosed But it can also be done in a completely dif- lives”, said Gunnarsson. how much the moments during the match ferent way as proven by some of the Wales meant to him: “It was something very special national team on Monday evening. In a video for me, when you are sent on and the whole which quickly went viral, several men in a stadium stands up calling my name. This will room can be seen following the round of 16 always be remembered“. match between Iceland and England on a large TV screen. Aaron Ramsey, the Welsh- Leader of the dreamers man of Arsenal FC, can be recognised quite The match between Italy and Spain was cer- Joachim Loew was pleased with the DFB team’s clearly. When the final whistle ascertains the tainly not short of highlights – but the greatest good performance during the 3-0 over Slovakia. “Three Lions” 2-1 defeat by Iceland, and the spectacle happened on the sideline. Italy’s Photo: Imago recognised English co-favourites have been coach Antonio Conte presented a masterclass, ousted from the European Championship, the with emotional outbursts, hurricane-like re- linked to the bitterest defeats in Loew’s coa- men go ballistic. They bawl, hop and dance joicing and furious protests. But he always re- ching career. He was Juergen Klinsmann’s through the room, embracing each other. It The players and fans from Iceland celebrate their tained style, with his well-fitting suit withstan- assistant coach when the “Summer Tale” was is a schadenfreude celebration without res- sensational victory over England in Nice with their ding the extreme stresses and strains, and in stopped short with the 2-0 semi-final defeat, traint. Wales are now the last team from Great battle cry “Huh“. Photo: Imago quieter moments he always straightened his after extra time in Dortmund, at the 2006 Britain remaining in the EUROS. The team will tie. In the social media Conte was celebrated World Cup. And at the European Champion- meet Belgium in the quarter-finals on Friday. Podolski’s emotional journey for his impulsive coaching, not just by Italian ship in Poland and Ukraine four years ago it Lukas Podolski has experienced more than fans. Particularly the well viewed sequence was once again a 2-1 semi-final defeat by Italy The huh-huh-huh battle cry of the Icelanders most of the other European Championship when Conte tried to scale the roof of the that prevented Germany from making the final. Iceland boasts 327,000 inhabitants, on a players during his career. He won a world title, substitutes’ bench after the final whistle – in It was the match of his life for Italian scandal- par with Leicester, home city of the reigning played with FC Bayern Munich, is the local contrast to his goalkeeper Buffon who failed hit striker Mario Balotelli, who decided the English football champions. About 27,000 hero in his home town of Cologne and achie- to hold on to the crossbar after their first tour- outcome with his two goals. “If you are trailing fans from the islands in the Atlantic Ocean ved trophies in Germany, England and Turkey. nament match. the Italians 2-0, you simply know that it will be are currently in France, that’s eight percent of Along the way he competed at a total of se- very tough”, Loew explained, “because they the population. Converting the proportion to ven European and World Cup finals, collected Conte is not worried prior to the encounter know how to defend and shoot into the stands Germany, 6.5 million German fans would have 129 caps for Germany and scored 48 inter- with reigning World Cup champions Germany, while smiling”. But Loew also knows that often to be at the European Championship. The national goals. Podolski is a well-known player who have already humiliated Italy 4-1 this enough the Italians are content with 1-0, defen- Icelanders create a great atmosphere in the in world football – but at the age of 31 he is year. Before moving to Chelsea FC after the ding their lead with everything they have. stadiums. They celebrated their 2-1 sensation still experiencing unique moments. During his tournament he wants to leave the national Loew did not say the words “most feared oppo- against England in Nice intensively. Captain tournament debut this time in the round of 16 team as European champions. His motto for nents”. He will be able to line-up his best team Aron Gunnarsson ripped off his shirt and ran against Slovakia the fans acclaimed his every this tournament proves that he does not pre- against Italy.