Wayne who?
- 8 Jun 06, 01:38 PM
AIRE DE SPY, E42, BELGIUM – While England is going Rooney crazy after it’s confirmed “the big man” will play some part in the tournament, it’s a different story on the continent.
Check out the video of our first day on the blog.
A stop for lunch at the motorway services just past Charleroi gave me my first opportunity to get my hands on the Bild Zeitung, Germany’s biggest tabloid paper.
So is the Rooney news splashed all across the headlines?
The answer, a firm no.
Instead we’ve got a full page spread with Franz Beckenbauer urging the German players to "" before Friday’s opening game against Costa Rica.
The article singles out striker Lukas Podolski and Chelsea defender Robert Huth as examples of players who keep their “lips clamped shut” when the national anthem Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit begins blaring over the stadium tannoy.
So we’ve got the first verse printed in full and Beckenbauer insisting, “so close to the start of a match, singing the national anthem strengthens self confidence and team spirit.”
England gets its first mention in a little side bar where it’s revealed the Evening Standard has branded German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger “Mr Toilet Brush” on account of his spiky haircut.
“Don’t worry Schweini,” it says. “You can flush the English away when we beat them in the second round.”
Other than that we’ve got a picture of Cristiano Ronaldo’s girlfriend, the revelation that Jens Lehmann has offered Arsenal team mate Freddie Ljungberg advice if he needs anything while in Germany and an advert on the front page warning fans that nothing spoils a victory party more than a bout of diahorrea – from “poorly cleaned beer glasses, fatty chips and the poor state of some public toilet facilities.”
So, not a mention of the boy wonder – maybe they never thought he was unfit in the first place.
In other news, Fletch has been showing off his Spanish to a group of Ecuador fans on their way to Germany, we're going to try and find Andrei Shevchenko in Luxembourg tonight and we still haven't heard from our forgetful Belgian.
An keep your eyes on our Flickr site for the .
Comments Post your comment
I'm not too surprised that everyone is not focusing on Rooney - a quick glance through the World Cup injury list (both those who will miss some or all of the tournament) makes you realize that a lot of teams are hurting right now. Considering that there are always first round shocks and that the benefits of finishing first in the group are big THESE other injuries are key. Edmilson, Cisse, Ballack and Gattuso among others could be significant. Which one do you guys think has the biggest impact? You can vote here:
Complain about this post
National anthem sometimes works well to be inspired before doing something for own country and that is why, Mr. Beckenbauer advised to the German players to sing and feel the national anthem and win the world cup for Germany. Rooney’s come back may be positive or negative as he has a lack of match practice before going to the largest sporting event in the world. It would not be expected to be a victim of Diarrhea for the less cleaned bear gasses.
Complain about this post
Well, I hope they printed the third verse of the anthem. Singing the first got us into trouble 1954 already ;-).
Complain about this post
Well, I hope they printed the third verse of the anthem. Singing the first got us into trouble 1954 already ;-).
Complain about this post
The Germans are desperate. They'll do anything they think will inspire them, since their football is all dull and drab.
And oh don't worry, come second round, or quarter final, after Rooney dazzles them, he'll be in the headlines.
Complain about this post
im a lesbian but rooney is so fit i love him
Complain about this post
So ROoney isn't featured in the German papers, quite frankly do we care? More importantly I don't see too much gossip about our biggest rivals in the tabloids over here and I wouldnt read it if there was! Come on ENGLAND!!!
Complain about this post
HPOLA son una manga de boludos y sepanlo yankees de mierda!! :P cha chau
Complain about this post
HPOLA son unos capos y sepanlo yankees de mierda!! :P cha chau
Complain about this post