Black Stars Fight On; Rooney's Free Rolls to Amuse or Bemuse Germans?

JOHANNESBURG. Soccer City was the venue for last night’s stark contrast in footballing cultures. 

The Black Stars of Ghana, who I picked early as my sentimental team for this tournament, versus one of the World Cup’s all time giants, those heart-breaking, make you cry, Germans. 

The Ghanaian fans were decked out in an almost rasta red, gold and green and their contingent included a brass band (close to where I was directed to sit in the upper tier) doing their best, along with a few West African drummers to compete with the vuvuzelas.

Ghana even appeared to have muti men and women with big cauldrons with some strange brew, going from corner flag to flag across the vast Soccer City cathedral doing their best to try and unsettle the Germans. One wonders if a fully Africanised Bafana Bafana, with a South African coach, can in future call upon the local sangomas for more assistance.

The Germans by contrast cast a different image all together on the evening including what we witnessed as the first signs of crowd trouble and hooligan activity as they faced off against the South African Police Services riot squad during the match. A certain section of the German brigade, seated close to the ground by the one corner flag, refused to sit down prompting spats with local fans. As the riot police sought to intervene, the atmosphere grew more tense with abuse and insults hurled by some sections of the Germans fans towards the police. The police had to forcibly remove at least one German fan and had to retreat and regroup to quell further unrest.

These ugly scenes which are the first we have witnessed after 13 match days and having visited 8 venues of the 10 venues thus far, are worrying as we await Sunday’s clash in Bloemfontein between Germany and England. One hopes that the security detail for tournament which thus far have been given an easy ride anticipated a German v England clash at some stage in the competition and have a plan in place for Bloemfontein. Based upon our recent visit to Bloem, one wonders how the authorities will be able to keep German and English fans separated at the Waterfront Mall in the centre of town, adjacent to the stadium, where fans congregate prior to kick off.

Yesterday’s afternoon kick offs however started off in a more serene fashion at Six Cocktail Bar in Melville for the highly anticipated England v. Slovenia clash. 

At the start of the tournament it was hard to imagine England not having enough to get out of this relatively soft group. With Capello shuffling his pack yet again to insert some pace up front with Jermain Defoe and a more free role for Rooney, a la Messi for Argentina, England looked more convincing going forward and were good value for their one goal.

Defoe’s performance in particular was impressive as he threatened on numerous occasions and it was good to see Rooney given the keys to the park, to roam freely, come deep to gather possession and generally have a greater impact on England’s build up play. For me, Rooney was unlucky not to score hitting the post late in the second half and while his World Cup has been disappointing thus far, this has more to do with Capello’s system and persistence in playing Heskey as a target man in the first two games then Rooney’s lack of endeavour. Rooney, in a more free role, is a different prospect indeed, just ask Sir Alex, and has the potential to both open up spaces for Lampard and Gerard to exploit going forward. It was also good to see the inventive Joe Cole coming on late as a substitute in the match. The potential attacking combinations, with flair and pace, of Rooney, Defoe and possibly Cole are England’s best chance for glory in Bloemfontein on Sunday. If not, on the form shown for the majority of the USA and Algeria match, I don’t fancy England’s chances to get past Ze Germans.

On conclusion of the English match, it was a quick dash in the car to the park and walk at Soccer City a mere 10 kilometres or so from Melville. It was only in the ride to the match that news filtered in from Pretoria of yet another late goal from the USA ensuring their passage to the knock out round as Group C winners. You really have to hand it to the unfancied Americans who must be given credit for their perseverance and never say die approach. The fact that the USA is able to battle for the full 90 minutes including scoring late goals makes them a banana skin for any knock out round opponents and while my heart remains with Ghana for Saturday’s clash in Rustenburg, something tells me that the USA will prevail and make a run deeper into the tournament. This same outfit showed their qualities last year in South Africa during the Confederations Cup beating Spain on route to the final where they were 2-0 up against Brazil before finally capitulating 3-2. A potential semi-final run remains on the cards for the USA.

As for Ze Germans, it was business resumed on Thursday night in Soweto. Ze Germans as noted previously do not lose two World Cup matches on the trot, nor do they fail to qualify for the knock out rounds. Ghana played German better than even in the first half and while creating few clear cut chances, it was difficult to separate the Black Stars from Ze Germans after 45 minutes. However, as predicted, Ze Germans did eventually take a chance, a wonderful 20 metre plus strike from their number 8, Mesut Ozil. Following the goal, the matched petered out in the last 15 minutes with Ghana showing the most intent around the box, however squandering their chances and never really troubling the German goal. With Australia winning against Serbia 2-1, everyone – German, Ghanaian and all the South Africans – the vast majority of whom supported Ghana seeking to ride the West Africa wave into the knock out rounds – were happy as Germany went through as Group D winners to face England and Ghana as runners up to face the USA in Rustenburg.

A brief word or two on the significance of Germany v England. My German friends assure me that Germans do not view this ‘rivalry’ the same way the English do. In fact, given German domination as perennial semi-finalists, finalists or winner of the World Cup, you can see where the Germans are coming from. What has England done lately for the Germans to have any fear? The Germans just don’t get it.

As for the English, with their only World Cup victory in 1966 coming against the Germans, not the mention the Great ’14-’18 War and the Second World War, this is it – the old Enemy, their greatest rival and the team that usually stands in the way of English glory. Having beaten Germany 5-1 in World Cup qualifying in 2001, the English fans to this day still sing (to the knick knack paddy whack give the dog a bone song – This Old Man?) ‘1 nil down 5 nil up, two World Wars and One World Cup...’ This amuses the English to no end and at worst, mildly irritates the Germans who hardly consider the English worthy rivals.

Long before arriving in Africa in the 1990s, as a young man, it was the England v Germany matches which colour my early memories and disappointments as a soccer fan. Italy 1990 in particular, and six years later in Euro 1996, rest deep in the grey matter, as memories of German victories on penalties still makes me cringe. It is difficult to forget Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle’s penalties misses that night in Bari and of course, Paul Gasgoigne tears at the final whistle.

I have to admit that my passion for English football, in terms of the national set up, has faded over the years succumbing to the more tribalist instincts of club football supporting Man Utd, however, when it comes to the World Cup, there is one match up that makes supporting Ingalund more about instinct and reflex than reason – a match up against Ze Germans. So it’s back to Bloem on Sunday forgoing Argentina v Mexico at Soccer City in the flesh for Radio 2000 broadcast on the road back home! While I think Argentina can win the World Cup and neither Germany nor England look likely, there is just too much history to pass this one up. Can England exorcise their demons? Why do I remain fearful that once again it will all end in tears for the Three Lions?