Auf Wiedersehen Deutschland

Goodbye Germans.

Most of my friends know that I am a huge German national team supporter. I have been supporting them since Italia 90 or since I was seven. I still carry a sticker of the national team and the Deutschland soccer logo in my wallet since the Euro 96 championships. That’s over 8 years now.

After seeing my beloved Germans losing to the Czech Republic and crashing out of the Tournament last Wednesday, I was sourly disappointed in the way the Germans approached the Euro 2004 championships. Even in pre tournament matches the Germans were criticized for the lack of creativity up front.

This is the second time in succession the Germans fail to clear the group stages in the European Championships. Although the German media has bashed Rudi Voeller for his team underperformance, I really feel a sense commiseration towards Rudi Voeller.

This is a man who took home the World Cup in Italia 90, and took it upon himself to steer his dark horse national team, a team who many doubted would even make pass the group stages, to the World Cup final in 2002.

Although Rudi Voeller has now resigned from the German national Team as their coach, I wonder if Ottmar Hitzfeld, the clear favorite to replace Rudi Voeller, will be able to produce the glory days of German Football.

And as for my Euro 2004 predications go, I really want to see the Czech Republic win the tournament.