wc overload?

i know that by now the wc is a distant memory for most people, but there remains a number of very interesting news items that linger from the month long party that was deutschland06.

the first is the zidane headbutt incident. you have no doubt seen the footage and read the comments (but have you played the game?). my take is that is was a totally asinine thing for the captain of a team to do, regardless what was said on the pitch. that being said, international football has historically had and continues to have serious problems with racism, so i hope that whatever comments the italian defender materazzi made were your typical competitive banter and not something racist and ugly like what has been suggested.

the second issue is germany's notable success (3rd place/several ticks of the clock from going into penalty kicks with eventual champion italy) and the resounding disappointment that was the usa campaign. that brings us to the second major talking point in the post-wc landscape: juergen klinsmann leaving germany and bruce arena doing nothing with a team that entered the tournament ranked #5 in the world rankings. instead of trying to explain the complicated feelings that inhabit your typical german football fans mind concerning this issue, i have enlisted the services of an actual german football fans to summarize the nation's feelings for me. that's right, live from germany...i give you the ramblings of mfd correspondent, mr. thilo panzerbieter.

Klinsmann leaving the German Team is very sad. It dominated the news here yesterday.
On the other hand, almost everyone highly respects Klinsmann for his decision and knows to accept it. Just in March of this year, the media was tearing him up and so were all other decision makers in German soccer (including Beckenbauer). He has
not forgotten that. They gave him such a hard time during his reforms. Each step - which has now turned out to be worth gold - was questioned and almost prevented. Some further reform steps that he wanted to make were actually stopped. He has fought a hard battle and has stuck to his plan. No one apologized to him for the previous hardships or critique. Everyone praises him now and acts like they were supporting him all along (including Beckenbauer). Klinsmann deserves a lot of respect for
his high principles and the fact that he does not (like so many politicians) cling to power until it is taken from him. He is truly a great guy and has changed the mentality of the whole country with the joy that he has brought to the German people during the World Cup. He has given the Germans national pride again (one that is not dangerous and quite fun and playful) - he has changed the perception of our people by the world and by ourselves. He did some incredible work - probably the best that any national team coach has ever done for us. That is what people will remember.

As the next coach, he leaves us his assistant. The whole rest of the coaching team also looks to stay. Klinsmann therefore will have the best side of it no matter what happens. If the team continues to win and accomplish great things at the next tournaments, he will be remembered as the one who laid down the foundation and did the reforms. If the team fails, he will be remembered as the best coach that no one can measure up to. If he would stay, it could only go downhill (and that can happen
very fast!).

Klinsmann says that he wants to rest for half a year. Everyone knows that Bruce Arena's contract runs out at that stage. Klinsmann lives in and loves the USA. He has an American wife. The USA disappointed in the World Cup and the next coach can only do better. Klinsmann's market value is at its peak and the USA will want him. He can only become a big hero in the USA as well. It is a win-win situation for him.

He made a very smart choice and is a wise man.

there you go, i could not have said it better myself. so now you know the german perspective on the matter and as g.i. joe says, "knowing is half the battle!"

goodbye from germany