| 22.10.2008 |
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| Things seem to be listing slightly aboard the good ship Jogi. The Germany coach appears to be dealing with a period of unprecedented mutiny within Die Mannschaft; something that is as rare as a Thomas Hitzlsperger goal. The warm, sunny camaraderie of the summer of 2006 looks to have dissipated entirely along with any fuzzy feelings that former coach Juergen Klinsmann may have instilled in the team. We saw the first taste of discontent at Euro 2008 when Michael Ballack and the oh-so-smug Oliver Bierhoff almost came to blows after the whistle blew on that fateful final day. Watching the robust Ballack and the dandy Bierhoff being pulled apart by team mates was more exciting than the previous 90 minutes of soccer. It also signaled the end of the Klinsmann era of harmony and happiness. If that wasn't enough, the feud between the general manager and the captain bubbled on until very recently when they agreed to bury the hatchet (not, as some assumed, in one head or the other). Next up to rock the boat was Kevin Kuranyi who spat the dummy over being left out of the team against Russia earlier this month. KK showed his displeasure and the childish nature of the overblown soccer ego by storming out of the stadium in a huff. This was followed by a statement from Torsten Frings which implied that he was willing to turn his back on his country after what appeared to be a number of snubs by coach Loew. Which brings us to the latest reports of friction from the Germany camp. Michael Ballack again finds himself on the wrong side of the management by siding with Frings and demanding that senior international players of his and his midfield partner's ilk deserve more r-e-s-p-e-c-t (just a little bit). On the one hand, if someone has served their country for many years with loyalty and passion then, yes, of course they deserve to be told whether they feature in the current coach's future plans. But on the other, shouldn't the experience and knowledge of age tell these players that they are dealing with a coach who knows full well that by the time the 2010 World Cup comes round, some of his older legs will have very little running left in them? Maybe instead of negating the whole concept of respect by airring these grievances in the press, Frings and Co. should take their issues up directly with the boss. Respect is a two-way street. If you want respect, you go to your boss and you tell him your situation and then listen to his side of things. Respect means you accept the decisions of those paid to make them and stay and watch your team, not flounce out of the stadium like the worst kind of pampered diva. While the soap opera the Germany team is currently becoming makes them a little more interesting -- at last -- it is also sad to watch. To see the German players behave like spoilt brats just confirms that no-one is immune to the curse of the inflated ego. I for one never thought Germany would turn out to be just like all the rest. |
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| 1 Comment |
| Seriously what is happening with this team? I understand their frustration but they need to see the bigger picture. I really like the German team. I hope their attitude improves. |
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| Krista | Homepage | E-Mail | 23.10.2008, 04:06 | ||