Kaiser coins it......
- 10 Jun 06, 08:29 PM
BERLIN - As the man who's running the World Cup, Franz Beckenbauer was always guaranteed a high profile here - and a seat next to the future king of England - but what ever he earned for leading Germany to The Big One as both coach and manager must be dwarfed by his commerical income this year.
Der Kaiser is everywhere. On every billboard, every newspaper and every advert break he's there, immaculate as ever.
My favourite is one is for a mobile phone where he, Lothar Matteus, Berti Vogts and Sepp Maier have all gone sweatered and sports-casual in a sort of Man Behaving Badly sketch.
Inevitably when the former coaches of Hungary and Scotland get a bit lairy, it's Franz who shakes his head in resignation and introduces some decorum. I dread to think how much their middle-aged high-jinks have cost.
Has anyone got similar memories of toe-curling examples of World Cup adverts disappeared up their well-paid behinds?
The big screen at the Brandenberg Gate apart, Berlin hasn't really taken off yet although Brazil's arrival on Tuesday should change that.
Martin Jol is here as part of our team and is a top man with his encyclopeadic knowledge of seemingly every player here.
In a whirl of salt-cellars, wine glasses and coffee cups he's given us the tactical breakdown of every major team here. His views on Holland v Serbia on Sunday should be well worth a listen.
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After a lackluster game from Sweden VS Trinidad and Tobago, Group C started with a roar.
Argentina ripped through with the goals and the games.
Ivory Coast was able to show that they have World Cup Potential. Ivory Coast managed to leave one goal before losing one to two to Argentina. Group C is going to be a group to watch. Let us see what happens between Serbia and Montenegro VS Holland.
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Of course Martin Jol is a top man. He is possibly the greatest living Dutchman. And his brother is called Cock.
Argentina were very good, but enormously frustrating. At 2-0 up, they decided against any further attempts at goal and decided to play lazy possession football. This invited Ivorian pressure and Argentina only decided to start attacking again after Drogba had scored. Talking of Drogba, he pulled off some top dives today. Nice to see that his theatrical skills translate so well on the big stage.
As for England - I am a fan of Sven's but I just cannot understand his decision to only take four strikers. His folly was underlined today when the sub-standard Owen was taken off. Sven's choices to replace him were an injured Wayne Rooney and a teenager with no Premiership experience. It would have been lovely to have Defoe, Bent or Ashton on the bench.
Still, England are famously slow starters. In some ways it's probably a good thing. We get the three points we wanted and now perhaps we can settle down to watch some football without quite so much hype and hysteria.
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With all the millions of people in the world together at the same time, this would be a good time to get the word out on the book "White Male Privilege," It could really help in the fight against racism all over the world. It can be seen at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk has a synopsis.
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Yes, and while everyone, of all colours, creeds and religions is enjoying the football, why not engage in a little bit of liberal, white, male handwringing?
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WHY DOES EVERYONE USE SUCH BIG WORDS! GOD SOME PEOPLE ARENT OLD ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it could just be me, you never know. Argentina played well, i thought they did anyway! Argentina has good people. I cant wait to see the England v trinidad and tobago game! ENGLAND RULES!
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