FIFA World Cup Gossip: Loew’s Special Sweater

Germany coach Joachim Loew has revealed that he will wear the same sweater as long as his team are in the World Cup.

Loew has been conspicuous at the touchline, and in the dugouts, by his blue sweater, that has created quite a buzz around it.

“The thing with the sweater is that I am not driven by superstition,” Loew joked. “The other coaching staff said I should be wearing the sweater now because every time I wear it we score four goals.”

Germany beat England 4-1 in the second round and reached the semi-finals following a 4-0 demolition of Argentina, with Loew donning the V-necked garment each time.

“I am not even allowed to wash it now and I think I will wear it again (against Spain),” he said.

Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger also hoped to see his coach wearing it at Durban Stadium.

“I do not know how many sweaters he has that are blue. But I hope he has the one or two left in his suitcase,” he said.

Loew has already gone on record saying that Spain can never be taken lightly, and has been quoted as saying that Soain have several Messis.

Schweinsteiger, too, is wary about the remaining games. The Germans face European champions Spain in Wednesday’s semi-final in Durban hoping to improve on their 2006 exit at the same stage when they hosted the tournament and a defeat by the Spaniards in the Euro 2008 final in Vienna.

The talismanic player knows that a return to Berlin without a trophy will be heart-breaking for himself. Considered a veteran already though he is only 26, he said, “Going back to Berlin to celebrate in front of hundreds of thousands was special. In 2006 we finished third and in 2008 we were second so it is clear that something is missing and we hope to fill that gap,” said Schweinsteiger.

“I don’t want to go back there with nothing to show — I’ve done that twice already,” he said.

The midfielder believes that since that loss in the Euro finals, Germany have closed the gap between themselves and Spain. The fact that the Germans virtually have a new team, whereas Spain have almost the old one has not slipped his notice.

“If you look at it on paper there is no doubt they are the better side but maybe now we have a better chance,” he added.

“Now we have fresh faces and different characters — an unencumbered state of mind. Spain have not changed so much. Sergio Busquets in for Marcos Senna is maybe the only real change whereas we have many, many newcomers.

“Spain haven’t really dazzled in the way that their fans might have hoped but they have still been winning. We need another tactical masterpiece,” said Schweinsteiger.

Though Spain were the pre-tournament favorites, and Germany have the third-youngest side of the World Cup, the Germans have outclassed most of their opponents and created quite a buzz with their faultless tactics and telepathic passing. Will the talisman Klose equal the Brazilian Ronaldo’s World Cup record for most goals scored? Can Germany truly make it to the finals and go one better than their Euro progress? All will be clear, in a couple of exciting days.

Facts, Stats and All Thats

FIFA World Cup 2010

The two day break in the World Cup has given us some time to gather our collective wits about ourselves and take a break. Though the same cannot obviously be said about the hundreds of analysts and number crunchers around the world. Here’s a few fun facts and stats of what has transpired so far….

If you have been asleep, in a bunker, or in DPR Korea the last few weeks, you can be forgiven if you aren’t up to date with the happenings of the World Cup. So here’s some tit-bits to get you going at the water-cooler chat.

1. Wayne Rooney got dispossessed of the ball 52 times, while in possession – the most by any player in the World Cup so far.

2. The average number of goals so far in the World Cup per game comes to 2.20. The lowest so far was in 1990, which was 2.21 goals per game.

3. The Nigerian President banned the national team from international football for two years. English fans are claiming to do the same with the English team as well, with some of them going so far as writing letters to clubs about halving the stars’ salaries in games.

4. Beckham has a chance to become next England’s manager. A recent poll in Britain put him at only a 16 to 1 shot to replace Capello – good odds!

5. Germany have stoked the fire ahead of their game against Argentina – calling them swarthy, conniving, tango-dancing cheats. Kind of true, considering Maradona’s antics and Tevez’s offside goal.

6. One of the funniest moments of the tournament, and I say this as a neutral observer, was Dutch striker Van Persie pleading to the referee that he couldn’t hear the whistle blown over all the vuvuzelas in the stadium. He would have been booked otherwise for continuing play even after being flagged offside, but the referee felt his case carried weight.

7. Ten of the worst referees of the tournament have been sent home. And guess what – the referees in the spotlight for the glaring mistakes in this World Cup are among them too.

8. It’s not everyday you see an English referee explaining to a bunch of South Americans about why he is booking them – and making a hash of it.

9. Kaka’s sending off during the match against Ivory Coast was both ridiculous and outrageous at the same time. He was forty yards away when the referee decided to send him off. He’s been playing with a big grin ever since.

10. This is the first time when a host nation has exited during the group stages itself. This is also the first instance when both the finalists of the previous World Cup exited during the group stages itself.

11. Most of the so-called superstars have exited one by one. Rooney, Lampard, Gerrard, Ronaldo, Drogba…only Messi seems to be enjoying himself. Note that four out of eight teams remaining are South American – maybe the balance of power is shifting?

12. France refusing to practice. Altercation between Anelka and Domenech. Domenech’s speech of using ‘revolutionary tactics at the World Cup’ coming to naught.

13. The pigeon perched on the Algerian goal during their match with England didn’t move at all. Not that it had to – but none of the English shots even came close to it.

14. The story England’s fans were so pissed that they stole the team’s undies and equipment. Turned out to be a hoax story.

15. The octopus Paul predicting each and every of Germany’s results correctly. For anyone who doesn’t know, it has also predicted that Germany will win against Argentina in the quarter finals.

16. Portugal’s captain Ronaldo spits in the direction of the camera. Not that he spit AT it. But it has sent headlines blazing.

17. DPR Korea registering a striker as a goalkeeper, in an underhand way to sneak in more striking options. FIFA wouldn’t hear of it; and the player was not allowed to play as an outfield player.

18. Rooney’s outburst at the English fans who booed the team during their games.

19. New Zealand went home unbeaten in the World Cup after three draws in the group stages. Italy finished below them.

20. Capello claiming that beer was the secret behind England’s only win at the tournament. Looks like they were still hung over during the German game.

More talking points to come by.