My heart is with Germany

Most observers, including myself, would have thought that Brazil, Argentina, or Germany or even England, would have been one of the Finalists.

“Who are you for?” asked a Trini Italy fan on Tuesday, as we settled to watch the first semi-final. “Germany!” I said, emphatically.

She looked at me and then asked, actually stated: “You were in Germany?” Then she added “Most Trinis are for Italy, but all of you who went, you support Germany.”

So true, and with good cause. No Trini could have been in Germany this past month, and not support Germany in the World Cup.

The support the Germans gave to us, in Dortmund, in Nuremberg, and especially in the last match in Kaiserslautern, was overwhelming.

The hospitality they bestowed upon us was genuine and outstanding. Sadly, we gave them in return only a fraction of the carnival and culture which they asked us to bring to them.

But Germany was, in a word — Vunderbar — to our Soca Warriors, to all of the Trini supporters from all over the world and indeed to the whole world. What a wonderful month! On and off the fields of play, in the stadia, on the streets, in all the huge Fan Fests, in fact in Germany, anywhere, we all, but especially we Trinis, felt so welcome, and so proud.

Jack, when you read this please consider inviting Germany to come here for a friendly, say around Carnival. It will be one of the most popular matches ever hosted here, as we roll out our welcome carpet for these people who so genuinely supported us over there. And it will be good for our football too! But, back to the Beautiful Game, and how I saw it unfold in Germany.

The first round was, as usual, beautiful “open” football, with adventurous play, lots of goals, and upsets, and of course, we were there!

Being a visitor at the World Cup Finals is a wonderful and fascinating experience. You “choose”, or have always chosen, your team to support, and you marvel at the real supporters, the citizens of the countries playing.

However, being there as a participant — your country playing — you wearing your colours, carrying your flags, dancing in the streets.

That experience defies rational description. So I will not try. But for us, as wonderful as it was, we always knew that we would not challenge for a place in The Final. So while we cheered our Warriors, and exulted in the pride we felt at their courage and commitment, we knew we had to choose someone else to support in the Final. Well, the favourites were: Brazil, of course, and for most Trinis. Then Argentina, possibly hosts Germany, with England fancied —although not by Trinis after the “Hair of Jah” incident, as well as Spain, Portugal, and the ageing France.

The “dark horses” which showed in the preliminary round included Holland, Ghana, Mexico and the Czech Republic. All but the Czechs qualified for the second round.

There were some memorable matches — Spain vs Ukraine, Argentina vs Serbia and Montenegro, and even the goalless Japan vs Croatia, which featured fine attacking football, thunderous shots and magnificent saves. However, some of the early favourites were faltering: Brazil, France and England all struggled to get started.

Brazil looked old, and Ronaldo was not the only overweight player. Fellow striker Adriano waddled ineffectually around, and Ronaldinho never looked his happy self, and how he looked, he played — sadly. But against Japan, ( Brazil 4-Japan 1 ), Brazil began to look like they would challenge for the championship again.

England, with an impressive list of players, never looked like a team capable of winning anything. It took a Paraguay own-goal to give them that victory, and the “Hair of Jah” to get past little Trinidad and Tobago, before they struggled to draw with Sweden.

France, who in recent years has developed the persona of an ageing chorus girl crying into her pastis while reminiscing how she had danced in 1998, continued to disappoint.

However, she did manage to come second in her group behind the very dull Swiss. Mexico qualified with Portugal from their Group, but fellow CONCACAF aspirants, Costa Rica and the USA, failed.

But Germany, not heavily fancied at the start, marched steadily on, and the people of Germany began to warm to their team. Singing “Ber-lin!, Ber-lin!”, in reference to their now anticipated place in the Final, our gracious hosts embraced this new ambition. They could win this after all!

The second round was, in one word — boring. The desire “not to lose”, rather than to win, crushed all initiative.

England beat Equador on a Beckham “curler”, England’s only shot on goal? Argentina eliminated brave Mexico, in the only extra-time result, Maxi Rodriguez with a candidate for top goal with a chest down then volley into the net.

Spain vs France and Ghana vs Brazil were the only second round matches where football was played, and played beautifully! A touching moment before the Spain-France encounter: Captains Raul and Zidane kissing each other as they exchanged pennants.

Brother Galacticos (Teammates at Real Madrid FC) , now leading their countries against each other in Germany. France, the old lady, rediscovered her footwork and danced to victory — Allez Les Bleus!

Ghana, carrying the hopes of Africa, attacked Brazil bravely, but lacked composure in front of goal, and discipline at the back.

Brazil marched on, but Ghana was rightfully as proud of their performances, as TT was of ours. Germany was comfortable over Sweden and the fans were singing “Ber-lin!, Ber-lin!” before the second half.

The less said about Ukraine-Switzerland, Portugal-Netherlands, and Italy-Australia, the better, except to suggest that FIFA might examine the correlation between negative coaching tactics and Red Cards.

So, on to the quarter-finals! Argentina-Germany and France-Brazil were the main attractions. Both Germany and Argentina are “young” teams, with players for the future.

Brazil and France are “old”, most of their players participating in their last World Cup.

In a match of excellent football, with few problems for the referee, Germany finally won on penalty kicks.

As the supporters sang “Ber-lin! Ber-lin!” there was a scuffle on the field between some players, slightly souring an excellent match.

Italy, rounding into top form, sailed past Ukraine 3-0, and England fought with Portugal to a goalless draw, in a match dominated by Rooney’s sending off and Ricardo’s penalty saves. All Trinis rejoiced at England’s departure, seeing it as “justice” for the “Hair of Jah” incident.

Possibly the match of the tournament (as in Mexico ’86) was the Brazil-France encounter. These two, shall we say, mature, teams, gave us a display of tactical but very positive football which was clean and flowing, France finally winning on Thiery Henry’s thundering volley as he ran in on the blind side of Brazil’s defence.

Brazil, alas, was going home without that sixth star on their jerseys. And the tournament was down to four-all Europeans.

As much as I have always admired Italy, it broke my heart to see them defeat Germany, just a minute before Germany was set to dominate the penalty kicks. But it was a wonderful match, played in all the right spirit, with the now-silenced Germans accepting their loss without bitterness or complaint. Like them, I wanted, with all my heart, for Germany to be in “Ber-lin!, Ber-lin!”. What pride this World Cup, and this young German Team, has brought to Germany!

A nation, newly unified (in 1974, West Germany played East Germany in the group stage), embraced a patriotism that has been denied them since World War Two, and as coach Klinsman said, the young team and the World Cup, has “shown a whole new (German) face to the world”.

The Portugal-France match was another highly tactical affair, but it was never boring, as both teams tried to win before extra time and penalties.

But it was a penalty, perfectly taken by the old Zidane, and almost perfectly saved by Ricardo, which eliminated the Portugese. So, it will be “Les Bleus” against “Forza Azzurri” this afternoon, and I will be supporting Les Bleus in Berlin, Berlin. But my heart will be with all those wonderful Germans, who carried their young team almost all the way to “Ber-lin!, Ber-lin!”.

May you sing as proudly, along with Trinidad and Tobago, in South Africa 2010. And thanks to all for The Beautiful Game.