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Friday, June 30, 2006
Germany’s dream, Argentina’s nightmare
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Off the Ball figures that the only worse way to determine the outcome of a game than penalty kicks is college football’s overtime rule.
Some think the way Germany and Argentina played in their quarterfinal match Friday made PKs an especially appropriate clincher. Still, the soccer gods always seem to rain down a cruel, mysterious fate, and that’s all OTB can point to for Argentina’s no-show from the spot as Germany moves on following a 1-1 draw (4-2 pens.).
And what about that fracas between the two teams afterward? That’s the sort of stuff that goes on in the stands and the streets. Ah, those wide, lovely, cafe-lined boulevards of the German capital is where OTB is spiritually habituating right this moment, far adrift from her physical proximity on the decidedly unlush Marietta Street.
Ah, to be strolling gaily along the Ku’damm right now, or sidling up to the outdoor patio at the famed Hotel Adlon, ordering up a Berliner Kindl or three.
Seriously, what can Germany do for an encore after this? After falling behind for the first time in the tournament, Klinsi’s boys tied it up as Klose finished off a double-header play, set up on a terrific cross by Michael Ballack.
No matter what Germany does after this, Klinsmann has been a raging success, and it will be hard to hail him as anything but the rest of the way. It might be hard to pry him away from this job now. Even Beckenbauer can’t touch him with criticism.
Flag-waving and American-style patriotism have never been post-World War II staples in Germany, but that’s not going to be the case for the next few days as Germans revel in an unexpectedly strong Cup showing.
Argentina looked like the best team at the Cup, but had to dig out a tough second-round win over a Mexico team that often looked stronger. Ayala and Cambiasso have to wonder how they managed such weak attempts on PKs, and what it was about their attempts that keeper Jens Lehmann read like a beach novel. He was there almost before the balls were struck.
Next up for Deutschland: a Tuesday semifinals date in Dortmund against Italy, which drilled the Ukraine 3-0 thanks to Gianluca Zambrotta’s inspired performance. Say what you like about Team Italia, but these guys have had to play against a gloomy backdrop. Zambrotta was one of several team members to spend a day this week in Turin after ex-Azzurri international Gianluca Pessotta fell from the Juventus HQ building in a likely suicide attempt related to the growing Italian match-fixing scandal. He’s not implicated in the mess, but may have felt heavy pressure as an interim replacement in the Juventus front office, which is at the center of the probe.
Saturday is the end of the road for England, most likely, but don’t be surprised if revved-up France has a surprise or two waiting for Brazil. The champs are coming under heavy fire for not playing all that pretty, or convincing. Only perfection will do.
And the Brazil mystique is starting to become a bit of a bore. Even Roberto Carlos says The Beautiful Game is a marketing contrivance.
Know what’s been the one of the most beautiful things OTB has seen during this Cup? An ad from Brazil’s Nike archrival adidas, with the two kids picking up dream team side in a dusty Barcelona sandlot, until little Jose’s mother wrecks it with a shriek from the balcony. This is what it’s all about, soccer kiddies in the USA — dreaming — and playing unfettered, not in the Elysian Fields of Westchester via minivan, etc. Think the coaching directors and resident moms and dads of Precious Cargo Youth FCs in America will take the hint? Don’t expect that.
And when the poster boy for American soccer isn’t about to challenge himself beyond his own comfort zone, then what can you expect, really? Especially when he admits that he wasn’t ready to play in the World Cup.
Donovan hides out in his first game back with the L.A. Galaxy, sitting not on the sidelines in support of his teammates but with his actress girlfriend in a luxury box. And he’s skipping the ESPYs because “I don’t want to get asked questions.”
It’s time to get a new poster boy.
Here is Zinedine Zidane coming out of retirement when he clearly wasn’t crazy about the idea, putting up with more humiliation and criticism than Donovan could ever dream of, and enjoys a few moments of glory against Spain. He’ll be a banged up for Brazil, but nothing will keep him from being out there. Like Jose’s sandlot pal, I’d pick him on my team every time.
