German class
Borussia Dortmund’s Mario Goetze is one of the most exciting talents in world football.
German football is cool again. Not since the heady days of the early 70s have Germany’s national team and top clubs evoked so much excitement. While the Die Mannschaft are serenely and inexorably moving towards a place at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are a step away from setting up a tantalising all-German final in the Champions League. In the 90s and even at the turn of the new millennium, neutral fans loved to hate Germany and Bayern.
Players such as Lothar Matthaus and Oliver Kahn epitomised Teutonic quest for success at any cost. The two football teams were the embodiment of arrogance and ruthlessness. Fans used to deride them for putting results above everything else. The means to achieve the end became irrelevant as the German juggernaut rolled on. It was difficult to separate Germany and functionality. When Germany edged out Argentina in the 1990 World Cup final through a penalty, they had few admirers. More people wept for the losers. The final became more notable for Diego Maradona’s tears than Germany’s triumph.
The 2006 World Cup at home became a watershed for German football. It was the tournament that transformed the dour image of Germany. Manager Jurgen Klinsmann’s stress on free flowing football was the catalyst. Even though Fabio Grosso broke the home team’s hearts in the semifinals, the Klinsi effect lingered. The exciting young talent at his disposal encouraged Joachim Loew to continue with his predecessor’s bold methods. A final and two semifinals at major events later, Germany have become one of the most loved international teams. At the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Germany’s youthful exuberance even put Spain’s tiki-taka in the shade.
Everything is hunky dory on the club front as Bayern bid to reach their third Champions League final in four seasons. Borussia play like Barcelona in disguise when they are in the mood. Jurgen Klopp’s side are a sight to behold when they bomb forward, throwing caution to the wind. The EPL is the most popular European league in India. As a business model, Bundesliga is no less successful. The number of goals per game has been the highest in the German league for the last few seasons. Fans flock to the stadia to whip up a carnival atmosphere. Bundesliga is even more multicultural than the EPL as Brazilian, Japanese and South Korean players gain acceptance in teams as well as among fans more easily. At the risk of upsetting the fans of El clasico, here is a wish for the Bayern-Borussia final at Wembley next month.
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