[nas] World Cup 06' Story

German WC bid to shake dour image 

 Soccernet.com - Sept. 10, 2003

 

World Cup ambassador Jurgen Klinsmann has revealed that he and his fellow
countrymen are desperate for the 2006 finals to be remembered as the
party that finally rids Germany of its humourless image.

 

Klinsmann's career saw him play in Italy and France as well as two spells
in England with Tottenham.

 

And the former World Cup winner in 1990, who now lives in California,
knew from his time abroad exactly how the Germans are regarded.

 

He said: 'We want the finals to be not typically German. People always
say about the Germans that they are well-organised and you can always
take their word but they do not enjoy life enough.

 

'Now we are trying to give the World Cup finals a different face.'

 

Klinsmann has been appointed one of three 'international ambassadors' for
the finals, with Oliver Bierhoff another as he has just retired from the
game.

 

Bierhoff, who also played in Italy, added: 'We want to prove that we can
be hospitable and fun too.

 

'A lot of people have preconceived ideas about us. Foreigners tend to
view Germans as very serious people. We are admired, but not loved.

 

'We want to show we are fun-loving. I enjoy a German party as much as an
Italian one. We know how to throw a party and if we can get that joy
across it can only be a good thing for Germany.'

 

Dortmund is currently under siege from a set of fans who seem to live for
partying - the Tartan Army.

 

Up to 14,000 were expected to cheer on Scotland in tonight's Euro 2004
qualifier at the Westfalenstadion, which will be one of the showpiece
venues for the 2006 World Cup finals.

 

Klinsmann is no stranger to British humour, which he encountered in his
first game on English soil when his Spurs debut at Sheffield Wednesday
was marked by Owls fans wearing snorkels and flippers in honour of his
alleged tendency to dive in the 1994 World Cup finals.

 

Klinsmann scored that day - and celebrated with a theatrical dive - but
his attempt at humour today was purely for a Scottish audience.

 

He said: 'I was thinking on the flight over from California what do the
Germans and the Scots have in common?

 

'We all love football, we like to have a beer once in a while - and we
all like to beat England.'

 

A logo featuring smiling, happy faces has been designed for the finals
and the organisers expect 3.2million people to be there, including one
million foreign visitors.


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