UEFA Qualification: Germany faces Turkey in Berlin
Pairing up Turkey and Germany has always evoked more attention than by the fans that are purely interested in soccer. Germany is influenced strongly by its German as well as by its large Turkish population and concerns about fans getting out of control if the result does not go along with their interest are large. For that matter media as well as fans and police are impatiently awaiting the qualifying game on October 8th where both team are fighting to get first place and an automatic spot in the European Championships.
After reaching the World Cup semi-final final with an exceptionally young team, there is pressure on Joachim Loew’s side not just to reach the finals, but to actually claim the competition. They’ve started in the right manner, edging past Belgium 1-0 on their travels and dispatching Azerbaijan 6-1 at home, but this forthcoming fixture is not so obvious.
Media states that based on poor performances in the club level these wins are still no predictor for positive expectations about the game versus Turkey. Loew on the other hand disagrees. “Their disappointing form at club level doesn’t worry me,” he affirmed to the media, doubtless considering the case of Miroslav Klose, who was so poor for FCB last term but who rose to the occasion with the national team in South Africa. “It is something I had expected. The players have had an incredible World Cup and some of them are showing they have lost a bit of strength. That is normal.”
Full Article: Goal.com
Paul the Octopus dies
Usually we pay attention to coaches, experts and commentators that have once played before or that have a great understanding of the game and the teams. This last World Cup on the other hand the soccer world looked towards Oberhausen, Germany where an Octopus predicted the outcome of every game with 100% accuracy. The Germans were angry and upset when he predicted they would lose to Spain in the semi-finals but Paul’s predictions were never wrong. After he predicted the outcome of the final he retired from his soccer role and went back to living a normal life in the Sea Life Center.
On Tuesday, October 26th, at the age of 2 ½ (which is normal for an octopus) Paul passed away.
“His success made him almost a bigger story than the World Cup itself. We may decide to give Paul his own small burial plot within our grounds and erect a modest permanent shrine. While this may seem a curious thing to do for a sea creature, Paul achieved such popularity during his short life that it may be deemed the most appropriate course of action.” Manager of the Center Stefan Porwoll is trying to give Paul the recognition he earned in his short but impactful life. England appointed him to an ambassador to its bid to host the 2018 World Cup, Spain wanted to borrow him or keep him forever and lastly with the assistance of an agent his name was used to help endangered turtles.
