GERMANY BELIEVES. THAT HAS NOT been the case for a long time where the national team is concerned, but when Oliver Neuville scored in stoppage time to maintain his team’s winning start to the World Cup, he succeeded in heightening the sense of patriotic fervour that has swept the nation since the tournament began six days ago.
Jürgen Klinsmann, the coach, punched the air in delight as the final whistle blew 60 seconds later, while the Westfalenstadion reverberated to the tune of Schwarz und Weiss, the anthem their supporters have adopted for the tournament. Almost assured of their place in the knockout stages, the victorious players embarked on a lap of honour, but none should begrudge them that, given the way that Klinsmann’s young players have ignited the competition with their enthusiasm and talent.
This result, more than merited after they dominated the match, is almost certain to spell the end of the road for Poland.
Much of the pre-match discussion had centred on Miroslav Klose and his decision to stand under the German flag after moving from his native Poland at the age of 8. Having scored twice in his adopted country’s 4-2 win over Costa Rica on Friday, he seemed mystified when his allegiance to the cause was questioned by the media, adding that the German national anthem was the only one he knew. But he showed a grasp of how high emotions were running in Poland when he suggested that the opposition would “play like men with a knife between their teeth”.
They did, showing a determination that was strangely lacking in their opening 2-0 defeat by Ecuador. This was a far more combative performance, but it had to be against a Germany team imbued with the confidence that a victory in the World Cup can bring.
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Chances fell to Germany’s two Polish strikers, but Klose and Lukas Podolski were profligate, each of them infuriating Klinsmann by wasting clear opportunities before the interval. Klose’s came in the 21st minute after a typically measured run and cross from Phillipp Lahm, the enterprising young left back. While the Poland defence stood static, the Werder Bremen forward attacked the hanging ball, but his header landed inches wide of the far post.
In first-half stoppage time it was Podolski’s turn to be wasteful as he was picked out in a crowded penalty area, again by Lahm, and steadied himself with an excellent first touch before shooting inexplicably wide from inside the six-yard box.
Germany were dominating in terms of possession, territory and chances, but their young central defenders, so careless in victory over Costa Rica, could not allow their concentration levels to drop. Poland re-emerged after the break with far greater conviction, finally grabbing a foothold in a midfield in which Michael Ballack, Chelsea’s recent recruit, seemed to be fading, perhaps beginning to feel the effects of the calf injury that restricted him to the role of non-playing captain on Friday.
On the touchline, Klinsmann was growing agitated but also bold. Not content with a draw, he replaced Arne Friedrich, a full back, with David Odonkor, the young forward who plays in this stadium for Borussia Dortmund, and then Neuville in place of Podolski. There was almost an instant, if indirect impact, as a free kick by Torsten Frings deflected into the path of Klose, whose instinctive shot was well saved by Artur Boruc.
Faced with fresh legs and fresh ideas, Poland’s tackling became desperate, fatally so in the case of Radoslaw Sobolewski. The midfield player, already booked for a lunge on Ballack in the first half, was sent off for a second offence with 15 minutes remaining as he body-checked Klose. Germany surged forward in ever greater numbers as first Lahm and then Neuville forced Boruc into excellent saves.
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Boruc was booked for time-wasting before Neuville and Ballack both hit the crossbar in a remarkable scramble in the 90th minute. Germany, though, were not to be denied, Neuville sliding the ball home from Odonkor’s cross.
How they rated
Germany 1 Poland 0
Neuville 90
Germany: Lehmann 5, Friedrich 5, Mertesacker 8, Metzelder 7, Lahm 8, Schneider 6, Frings 6, Ballack 6, Schweinsteiger 5, Podolski 6, Klose 6,
Poland: Smolarek 5, Krzynowek 5, Zurawski 6, Jelen 6, Radomski 5, Sobolewski 6, Zewlakow 6, Bak 7, Bosacki 6, Baszczynski 5, Boruc 8,
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GERMANY: Subs: Odonkor 6 (for Friedrich, 64min); Borowski (for Schweinsteiger, 76); Neuville (for Podolski, 71). Not used: Jansen, Huth, Kehl, Nowotny, Kahn, Asamoah, Hitzlsperger, Hildebrand. NEXT: Ecuador.
POLAND: Subs: Lewandowski (for Krzynowek, 77); Dudka (for Zewlakow, 83); Brozek (for Jelen, 90). Not used: Jop, Gancarczyk, Kosowski, Szymkowiak, Rasiak, Kuszczak, Mila, Giza, Fabianski. NEXT: Costa Rica.