FANTASTIC FOOTBALL FEVER (EPISODE - 04)

Arindam: - Mr. Klinsmann, welcome to our show. Who is a better player? Is it you or Lother Mathews?

Klinsmann: - I don’t understand why some people always compare me with Lother Mathews or vice-versa. Yes, it is true that both of us had contributed much for the German football, but both of us were different kind of footballer altogether. We had our own unique style of playing. So, why there will be a comparison between Klinsmann and Mathews?

Arindam: - Well, let us not discuss about it then. By the way, what do you feel about the current German team with an injured Ballack? Even a German celebrity has already declared that the absence of Ballack will be a blessing in disguise for the German team. Is it true?

Klinsmann: - German team is not a one man team. No one is dependent on any other player’s performance. Every team member has to give their heart out to win a match. You better ask that person, who commented that the absence of Ballack will be helpful for Germany. I also don’t know, why he commented that?

Arindam: - Ok, we will keep our discussions on, but before that, let us hear the analysis about some matches.

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Mr. ARINAN: - Both Algeria and Slovenia played pathetic football. But, luckily, Slovenia got a winning goal. The desert foxes of Africa were running like tortoises inside the field, without any game plan. Slovenia team has no skilful players, but somehow they know how to sprint with the ball without giving vital passes. Slovenia has won this match, but they are unlikely to qualify for the second round. In another encounter, the Black Stars of Africa defeated the White Eagles of Europe. Serbia got many opportunities but failed to convert those into winning goals. A Serbian defender was unlucky to get trapped in a hand-ball and the Ghana team got a penalty. Asamoah Gyan capitalized on that to score the lone winning goal of the match. The Asamoah and the Asamoah of Ghana looked really very impressive. The real interesting match was between Germany and Australia. Everyone was interested to see how this weak Ballack-less German team plays against Australia. But, German team just thrashed Australia with 4 goals. Polidski and Klose were the impressive ones. Klose was just cruising like a missile in the central forward line. Unlike other teams, this German team played in the ‘Pentagon’ style, where Klose was the upper point of that pentagon. The last two points were the midfielders, who created the game every time. The moment the ball enters the opponent’s penalty area, the German Central Forward moves in very fast to score goals from that position. Even Klose scored a perfect goal with his fabulous header from that Central Forward position. In the 2^nd half, Cacau replaced Klose and played in a similar strategy in that same central forward position and got the goal. Australian side looked like a mere under -19 football team. Hardly, they challenged the German defense.

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Arindam: - Wow…the German team has started their campaign in a great style.

Klinsmann: - Yeah, it is indeed. But, you don’t need to be over-excited about that, because the opponent was Australia.

Arindam: - Klose is the pick of this match. Suddenly, why Klose is attacking from the central forward line? This is a very interesting tactics!

Klinsmann: - Ha ha ha…there is nothing to get surprised in it. Klose is a player, whose body is the most flexible in the German side; moreover, he is the one, who can convert any corners with his swinging headers. But, one new thing is there in this German side. You have to understand why the current German coach has adopted the pentagon style attack. It is because of the fact that this German team has superb speed unlike the earlier German teams in World Cups. To be successful in pentagon style attack, you need speed to beat the defenders in the central forward area. Look at this German team. The average age of this team is around 24.8 years, whereas in out times, hardly have I seen any German team having their average age below 27.2 years.

Arindam: - I got your point. That’s why; Germany looks a very promising side now. Anyway, we will end our show here.