Runkel: Why everybody should hope for a German success in the final?
Why everybody should hope for a German success in the final
Let me first say: I have been watching German football teams on TV since I was nine, that was in 1958. I had my fair share of great victories and crushing defeats, so I have seen enough to be more or less unconcerned who will win this final. Nevertheless there is one good reason why I, and not only I but everybody else in the world should support the Germans. The reason is the captain of our team, Michael Ballack. He will be 32 in September and this final might be his last chance to win an international title. He hasn’t got one so far, no, he has won so many Vice-Championships (the last one with Chelsea) that every team, having him as a player must fear him as a bearer of some bad spell.
The Germans rather do not talk about it. Nevertheless they all know and even have a secret idea where the softness deep inside Ballack might come from: he is an “Ossi” a man from the east, he lived 13 years under the demotivating and boring system of the old “German Democratic Republic”. You can tell from his soft accent that he is a Saxon and some people in the more western parts of Germany make jokes about Saxons like: The difference between a Saxon and a Turk? A Turk has a job and speaks better German.
Now this is obviously unkind and unfair: It is unkind to any people, not coming from “The West” whatever that country may be. So for Michael Ballack’s sake: let him win and let his name be mentioned by future generations together with people like Beckenbauer and Matthäus, like Zidane and Ronaldo. Only then “The West” will be forced to give up its arrogance and to recognize that all blessings come from The East.
Germany v Spain
Germany captain Michael Ballack is a doubt for Sunday's Euro 2008 final against Spain because of a calf injury.
Football fever
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Germany coach Joachim Löw and his Spain counterpart Luis Aragonés are both hoping UEFA EURO 2008™ will come to a suitably exciting conclusion on Sunday.
Ballack a doubt for EURO final
Germany could go into Sunday's final against Spain without their captain and inspiration Michael Ballack as the midfielder is receiving treatment for a calf injury.
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La escuadra borbónica vence a la romanov
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Back in the capital for Wednesday's Euro 2008 semi-final between Germany and Turkey, we decided to meet up with some members of the London branch of Fenerbahce FC.
