Mario Gotze’s spectacular goal
I was rooting for Argentina in yesterday’s World Cup because I love the play of Lionel Messi, but I was relieved that the game didn’t go to penalty kicks and that it was won with a spectacular goal. I was also very impressed with the German team, which swarmed relentlessly every chance it got.
I remember watching Germany play Brazil in the 2002 finals. I didn’t have a rooting interest for either team and decided that I would root for the one that was playing the most interesting game. It only took me five minutes to choose the Brazilians as the Germans were hunkered down in an unimaginative defensive posture.
This team, by contrast, was anything but dull. They attacked constantly and moved the ball in intricate ways. Argentina fought back valiantly in a thoroughly entertaining game but in the end were outclassed. The Germans are worthy successors to the great Spanish team that won the World Cup four years ago.
In their honor, here are the words of their national anthem, written by the poet August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben in 1841. At the time the words were associated with liberals who wanted to unify Germany and the poem was considered to be radical. Because German nationalism acquired such a bad reputation with the Nazis, however, the post-World War II government chose to sing the third stanza rather than the first, which had been emphasized by the Nazis. You’ll see why when you read the poem in its entirety:
Germany, Germany above everything,
Above everything in the world,
When for protection and defense, it always
takes a brotherly stand together.
From the Meuse to the Memel,
From the Adige to the Belt,
Germany, Germany above everything,
Above everything in the world!
German women, German loyalty,
German wine and German song
Shall retain in the world
Their old beautiful chime
And inspire us to noble deeds
During all of our life.
German women, German loyalty,
German wine and German song!
Unity, Justice and Freedom
For the German Fatherland!
Let us all strive for this purpose
Brotherly with heart and hand!
Unity, Justice and Freedom
Are the Pledge of Happiness;
Bloom in the Glow of Happiness,
Bloom, German Fatherland!
