World Cup

 

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Our fourth spotlight on World Cup Stars looks at one of Germany’s finest – der bomber! Check out previous posts on World Cup Stars here.

“(He) was short , squat, awkward-looking and not notably fast”, wrote David Winner in Brilliant Orange: The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Football. This description does not sound like one you would expect of a World Cup great, but the player described won a European Championship, a World Cup, is second all time top scorer in the competition and has one of the best goal to match ratios of any player – ever! 489 goals in 565 games. Gerd Müller, born in 1945 in Bavaria, was a deadly finisher, a fox in the box, and was simply know as der bomber – the bomber!

He has already established his fearsome reputation as a goalscorer at Bayern Munich, the team that dominated German club football in the late sixties and early 70s. Playing alongside Sepp Maier and Franz Beckenbauer it wasn’t long before Muller, initially believed to be too short and stocky to be successful, was called up to the national side, and in his first international competition, the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, he scored 10 goals and won the Golden Shoe. His haul included hatricks against Bulgaria and Peru, a winner in extra time against rivals England, and two against Italy in a match the Germans lost 4-3. Müller himself believed this competition was the most important in his career and it certainly propelled him into the international spotlight.

A European Championship title in 1972, culminating in a 3-0 win over Russia – two goals for der bomber and the top-scorer award – was followed two years later with West Germany’s successful campaign in the 1974 World Cup in front of their own fans. Müller’s West German side were up against most neutrals favourites, Holland. The Dutch, led by legend Johan Cruyff, were playing what became known as ‘total football’ a fluid approach to the game freeing players to change position in combinations that defied traditional thinking about line-ups and tactics. The West Germans had been solid in the tournament but not outstanding, unlike the Dutch who most pundits thought claim the trophy. The game became a tight, tense affair and the difference between the sides was  der bomber and his goal that put the Germans up 2-1 and ended up being the winning goal, and Müller’s last for his nation. This is how he described it, “I ran forward with two Dutch players then checked back because the pass was behind me. The ball jumped off my left foot, I turned a little and suddenly it was in.” ‘Suddenly it was in’, if any phrase describes the short, squat, stocky, slow striker from the south of Germany, ’suddenly it was in’ is perhaps it.

David Miller goes on to say about Gerhard Müller, “he had lethal acceleration over short distances, a remarkable aerial game, and uncanny goalscoring instincts.” Der bomber, goal-scoring machine and World Cup great. continue

 

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On this week’s show Damian takes a look at one of the African sides that has made it to South Africa – Algeria. Remember you can also:

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On this week’s show we ask five fans what they think of their teams’ chances at the World Cup next year and to comment on their groups. Remember you can also:

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This week’s main report takes a look back at the World Cup draw that took place in Cape Town last week and asks 5 football fans from around the world what they think of their respective country’s chances. The transcript can be found below.

Damian: Right, we’ve got lots of football fans from around the world here and we’re going to ask them their opinions on the World Cup draw. Hello, can you introduce yourself.
Luciana: Hello my name is Luciana and I’m from Brazil.
DF: And Brazil are in which group?
L: Brazil is in Group G and it’s playing against Korea, Cote D’Ivoire and Portugal.
DF: Now which of those teams will be the biggest rivals for Brazil?
L: Definitely Portugal.
DF: Yes, it’s a tough group…
L: Yes, it is.
DF: Do you think Brazil can win the group?
L: Yes, I think Brazil’s going to win the group and win the World Cup.
DF: Wow, confidence indeed. Thank you.
L: Thank you. continue

 

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Leo Messi and the World Cup draw dominate this week’s show as we congratulate the Argentinian forward and look forward to the finals in South Africa next summer. You can also:

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This week’s main report looks at the newly-crowned Ballon D’or winner, Leo Messi. The transcript can be found below, while vocabulary support can be found for the words in bold at the foot of the post.

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Recently I was involved in a discussion with some friends over whether Brazilian star Kaka was a better player than his Real Madrid team mate Ronaldo. Who cares shouted another member of our group, they are only fighting for the title of second best player in the world. Discussion over. We all knew who is the global number one: Lionel Messi, no argument. continue

In this video worksheet post we use a clip from the excellent The History Of Football [2002] [DVD] on the 1966 World Cup final between Germany and England. There is also a worksheet, transcript and answer sheet below. The report lasts for 3 minutes 30 seconds.

Transcript

Bobby Moore and Uwe Seeler were out in the middle exchanging international compliments and meeting the referee Dienst of Switzerland.

The West German attack had bite and purpose, on they came again. An English defensive lapse gave the ball to Haller… and that was it. One down after 12 minutes spurred the English attack. This time a chance came to West Ham’s Geoff Hurst – it’s the equaliser!!

It’s there. Peters has scored. If only they could keep the lead for a few desperate minutes against the West Germans, now a team playing their hearts out to keep in the running. Germany would not let up then seconds before the final whistle, agony for England. Webber scored. It had to be extra time. Then Geoff Hurst, cool and collected, had the ball in the net. No! It bounced out. ‘Goal!’ claimed England. ‘No goal!’ protested the Germans. The referee consulted the linesman who’d been in line with the posts and goal it was.

When there was only a minute to go England still had no thought of being content with that one goal lead racing to beat the whistle, Geoff Hurst saw an opening in the defence and achieved a hat trick.

Bobby Moore lead England up to the Royal Box to receive the Jules Rimet Cup and the winners’ medals. To be here as winners of the FA Cup has often been described as the summit of a footballer’s ambition, how much greater is the triumph they enjoy now.

Three years go Alf Ramsey set out on the hard road that lead to the World Cup. Only the optimists thought he could possibly succeed, certainly not West Germany whose team now ran a lap of honour. They were very sporting losers. Finally it was England that the whole world of sport was now cheering.

 

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This week we continue our look at the qualifiers for next year’s World Cup. And this podcast is all about Slovakia, who have qualified for the first time in their history.

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The World Cup qualifiers have finished and we interview two English fans, Simon and Tim, and ask them for their World Cup predictions.

Listen to the report here

You can also try our online listening quiz:

Click here to listen to the report and answer listening comprehension questions.

Before you listen, check that you understand these words:

dark horse: outsider, not favourite, but may have a chance, may surprise

unusual: not usual, strange, not expected

something missing: not complete, not perfect, can’t be relied on

to fancy: to expect to do well

fancied team: a team people expect to do well

form: recent history of results, good form = winning a lot of recent games

a quote: famous words, well known words

 

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The World Cup dominates this week’s show as we take a look back at the dramatic play-offs and we also have two England fans looking forward to the finals in South Africa next summer. You can also:

World Cup play-offs dominate the week. It’s squeaky bum time for several countries around the world. We have the second leg in the Asia vs Oceania play off, the CONCACAF v South America showdown, and the games that will decide which European sides will join those already qualified. Our guest this week is Lilika, a Liverpool fan living in Japan.

Ireland play France in the World Cup play-offs this week with many commentators already writing off their chances of making it to South Africa next summer. However, here are 5 reasons why Republic of Ireland fans can still dream about World Cup 2010 despite being drawn against a team that has already been seeded twice. Vocabulary support can be found for the words in bold at the foot of the post.

1.Trapattoni

The pedigree of the current Irish manager is there for all to see – 7 Italian titles, 1 European Cup, 3 UEFA Cups, 1 Cup Winners Cup, as well as league titles in Germany, Portugal and Austria. With his wealth of experience he has taken a squad that had been in disarray, and instilled in it organisation, belief and tactical nous, as well as a large slice of luck (see below). This has lead to an unbeaten 10-match qualifying campaign despite having played without many of the team’s top stars. Most of this turnaround has been down to the influence of ‘Trap’. Put it another way, which manager would you want in charge of such an imoprtant game, Trapattoni or Domenech? continue