Bring It Home (A Germany Euro 2008 Song)

What Klinsmann did back in 2006 did not only affect football as it is in Germany, but it united an entire country that had been divided for so long. It was a miracle, a pure magic. Till now, it serves to be a reminder as to the true power of sports (in this case, soccer). Klinsmann and his staff, and those eleven people playing on the field are national heroes for making that possible. While I’m not German, but this story (”fairy-tales” as you put it) really show how special this team is.

It was in 2006 I first fell in love with German football despite what people have said about them from their dismal performances before the WC06, and I think I’ll stick with supporting Das Mannschaft for a long, long time. It is always a joy to watch them play and I hope that in this tournament, this Germany team can give another reasons for the Germans back home to be extremely proud of them and their country.

‘It was in 2006 I first fell in love with German football despite what people have said about them from their dismal performances before the WC06, and I think I’ll stick with supporting Das Mannschaft for a long, long time.’
Oh,me too. They’re amazing.

i started loving german football from childhood my father is a great fan of german football and i used to watch the world cup(1990) german team on videos since i simply love them the klinsmann matthaus voeller all of them were amazing….i am very sure that this time on they will go ahead and win this euro 08 undoubtley and makes us proud its seems that they are getting better and better all the time.

Regarding the video, I cannot stop laughing. I recognise a few ‘people’ in the video. Der Kaiser, Kuranyi, Klinsmann, Jogi (if there’s dark glasses, Oliver Pocher will really look like Jogi but anyhow, his impersonation of the coach really got me laughing out loud)…

Nick, this is going to be long. You have been warned. You are indirectly making me remembering how I came to support Das Mannschaft (as what Intan said).

While it began in 1998 for you Nick (I was 10-going on-11 at that time and back then my main memory of France ‘98 was Zizou), I think it really took off for me two years ago during the World Cup. I mean, the first time I took notice of the Mannschaft was the 2002 World Cup final. As I always have this supporting-the-underdog mentality, I went for Germany though back then Brazil were the favourites to win (which they did). I will never forget when a Germany goal attempt hit the crossbar. I was watching the match and it was there right in front of me (on the TV, that is). It just stood out for me (it was only last year I learned Oliver Neuville was the one with the attempt). Given the day after in class, some of my classmates were discussing the match and the goal attempt was mentioned. That got my attention.

Soon after that, I forgot about the German national team (I know). Until the time they lost to Italy 4-1 in a friendly. I should know, one of our newspapers here back then had a countdown to the World Cup special and they began with that (the newspapers began their coverage with a 100 days to go to the tournament). I know, Euro 2004 totally slipped past me given I only mainly remembered Greece shocked the world by winning the tournament (it was only I did some reading online I then knew how Germany fared during Euro 2004).

So WC06 began and till now, I always regretted never watching the opening match. I only knew of reports later that Philipp Lahm was the one who scored the opener. I remembered my father was watching (I think I was using the computer then) the match and he seemed to be saying something from the living room then. It was then I asked myself – ‘Germany scored early?’. Opening matches don’t have a history of goals being scored early and that changed the perception.

So as the matches went on, at one stage, I actually said this – ‘I rather watch Germany play than Brazil.’. I never knew what that simple statement could bring…until the semi-final match between Germany and Italy. Granted because of the time difference (6 hours if it’s daylight savings, 7 hours if it’s not) between Germany and here in Singapore (where I come from and typing this), the match was in the early hours of the morning here. I had a few hours of sleep before waking up and watch the match with my father. It was the first time I watched a match in the early hours of the morning. Then the dying minutes of the added extra-time.

I swear back then I almost jumped out of the sofa. I only knew I said ‘Come on!’ when the first Italy goal came about. Then the second goal…it’s all over. I never slept after the match was over. I cannot sleep. On that same afternoon, the tears almost started to flow. My brother was taunting over me the fact that Italy beat Germany (he was going for Italy then to win the match). I was really angry and wanted to fight back. That was then it started to hit me that I had always secretly like the German national team since the start of the tournament. While I remembered I was happy they beat Argentina on penalties (and to imagine early in that match, I had almost given up hope until my father who was in the living room, said something and I went out of the bedroom to see what was going on…Klose equalised) with my father always believing Germany will win the match from the start (he has more of a personal reason why he don’t want to see Argentina in the semis), the loss to Italy really hit me.

I mean, when it comes to watching sporting events on TV, that is the first time I actually came close to crying. It has never happened before, given even all the more I can be an emotional person at times. It’s like you realised you only treasure something once it’s has been taken away from you. That was the feeling I had.

Ahead of the 3rd/4th playoff, I remembered back then the newspapers were asking what is the point of having such a match. I only knew from then, I will never look at such matches the same way again. It was also then I knew of Schweini for the first time. Seeing him doing his stuff against Portugal in the quarter-finals of the current tournament brought back all those happy memories again. I even can’t help but saying out loud when he scored the opener in Basel – ‘It’s 2006 again!’.

Back to the original topic. Back then after the 3rd/4th playoff, I already had the funny feeling Klinsmann will step down. It just came to me. Which means I will miss watching his reactions from the touchline. It never failed to crack me up. And I still remembered how our newspapers here praised him for his work during the tournament. When Klinsi announced he will step down, that was when doubt swept over me. How is the national team going to survive without him? He has rejuvenated the pride and soul of a country being used to torn apart because of history and speaking as someone who used to study History in school, all the images of the Germans celebrating…I don’t know what to say. Puts it all into perspective, maybe.

Guess when back then Jogi took over his position, whatever Klinsmann said was true – ‘He is more than just an assistant to me.’. I think it’s that.

Well…if there’s a reason why I am still following German football now, it all began with the ’summer fairytale’ of 2006.

In this Euro 2008, we had already weathered the crisis of losing to Croatia, Jogi not allowed in the dugout (for something he never do). For once, I actually found myself wanting to defend for Jogi. I had a personal experience of being in the wrong for something I never committed. I had heard that (not sure if it’s true) that Jogi’s job was under threat after the loss to Croatia but if he really leave the post one day for whatever reason…I will always remember what he has done for the national team (given after all, he was originally the ‘brains’ behind the national team), what he wears on matchdays (I know, I can be bored at times…even checking out what he is wearing in the dugout:P) and, being handsome (at least in my mother’s eyes).

In the case for the latter, when even my mother, the non-football fan said that he is handsome (believe me, she said that and I had to confirm with her first)…you know it’s something. She was just commenting that when I was watching the Group B opening matches highlights on TV and she was also in the living room then. Given at one time, Jogi was shown on the TV screen and that was when her comment came about. You know they always say – Mum’s the word.

btw. did you know Oliver Pocher (the guy from the video) was coaching the national football team of zanzibar which placed 2nd in FIFI Wild Cup 2006?

Ben, wow.

Sorry for my long comment over there. I had a reason for that. To think of it, I actually had my own personal ’summer fairytale’ and it went back to seven years ago back in school. The last time I really felt happy about life (I know, but outside of the schoolwork and exams, school life treated me well back in those days). Since then, I don’t know when was the last time I was really happy over something.

WC06 almost brought me back to those schooldays again actually.

You do not need to excuse. Neither for the long (but interesting) comment nor for being a fan of Die Mannschaft.

I see this team getting to the final and possibly winning the cup but they should be careful against either Spain or Russia , as for Turkey all their luck has ended and they should expect to be lucky against Germany

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While I really want the Germany team to go to the finals, the last thing they–and we, as fans–should do is underestimate the Turkey team. Teams that make it to the semifinals do not only do it on luck alone, but also talents and tactics, and Turkey’s talents really lie on their last minute shock wins.

Go Germany! Great team, and very intertaining

I agree with what artu said. turks should not be underestimated by any means. Look how they came back from behind AND won both of thier previous matches in almost the same fashion(late goals). Germany’s fragile defence should really be on it’s toes if they are to defend against the rising late tidal attack of turkey.
you never know when they might strike, AND we never can be sure of our golie either!

… these days in Germany:
http://i30.tinypic.com/2j289yh.jpg

“I saw some of the players lying on the pitch,” said Fatih Terim, the Turkey manager, aka The Emperor in his native land. “I told them to pick themselves up. I wasn’t about to give up. I never have in all of my career. You should never give up until the referee blows the final whistle.”
http://www.fanguide08.net/ShowArticle.aspx?ID=59

Posted from Ukraine

I’d like to add that while Germany has won 11 games out of 17 games against Turkey since 1951, they haven’t won a game against Turkey since 1992. However, Ballack remains confident that the hour of truth is close for Germany (http://sport.sg.msn.com/Football/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1511789)–while still saying that the players should not think lightly of the match since the Turks plays apparently with a “Germany” mentality. At least, Lehmann has vowed to put his life on the line for the game against Turkey (http://sport.sg.msn.com/Football/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1511987). How reassuring.

don’t underestimate the turks please! remember, they beat the croats!

I HAVE BEEN A FAN OF GERMANY SINCE 1990 AND ITS GOOD TO SEE GERMANY REACHING SEMIFINALS.THIS TIME ITS GERMANYS CUP AND AM SURE THAT GERMANY WILL WIN

GERMANY WILL WIN BY 3 GOALS TODAY GUYS.JUST WATCH OUT .THESE ARE MY WORDS.

Unfortunately happen this which I didn’t want to happen!!!!
To see in semi-final Turkey and Russia….. Anyway, 2004 was my first homeland the winner (GREECE) and now since Germany has reached the semi-final, and since it is my second homeland, I want them to reach the final game and to win the cup!!!!

GOOD LUCK TO THE 11TEAM OF LOEW’S

i love germanyy!, Im germannnn & im proudd of it. germanyy better kick turkeyss butt todayy ! :]

And your keyboard doesn’t work properly.

YAY! germany is going to the finals!

in world cup 2006 when germany wos playing with fucker italy i wos prepared wor germany to win the cup in second that itali scored a goal i wos dead i cryied 2 nights i didnt slep
im from albania but i am a crazy tifo of germany
from all albania we wish that cup will be in ballack hand in player of national team og great germny i love them
in 29 i will go aut to watch the game and i have with my self wear ballack t shirt ang in all my body in my heart germany
with love with luck that wish from albania from shkodra bela(gabriela)