DORTMUND, Germany -- The game had ended long before and a thunderstorm was
breaking out, yet die-hard German fans were still at the stadium, singing the
chant now heard across the country.
Germany's Michael Ballack (R) and Torsten
Frings celebrate their win over Poland, as Poland's Maciej Zurawski (L)
walks by, after their Group A World Cup 2006 soccer match in Dortmund June
14, 2006.[Reuters] |
"Berlin, Berlin, we are going to Berlin," they sang, referring to the site of
the July 9 World Cup final.
Germany is not there yet, and the final is still far away. But the host
nation took a major step toward at least the second round by edging Poland 1-0
on Wednesday.
It took some doing.
Shot after shot was turned away by Poland's goalkeeper and the crossbar.
Germany kept firing and got the payoff just in time -- injury time. Substitute
Oliver Neuville scored on a sliding kick off a brilliant cross from another sub,
David Odonkor.
"It was a bit lucky, but it was more than deserved," Neuville said. "I should
have scored even before."
Odonkor broke free on the right wing and his perfect pass was booted home by
Neuville. The German players mobbed Neuville as the crowd, previously frustrated
at seeing their heroes thwarted, erupted in cheers.
"I can't describe my feelings," said Odonkor, a rookie on the German team who
plays for Borussia Dortmund. "When I got the ball, I looked up and crossed, but
I didn't see whether a striker was there or not."
The hosts, with a man advantage for the final 15 minutes, controlled the
action only to be frustrated by Artur Boruc, who made a handful of spectacular
saves.
Poland's Radoslaw Sobolewski was sent off in the 75th minute with his second
yellow card after tripping Germany striker Miroslav Klose. The Germans pressed,
but Boruc was impenetrable.
So was the crossbar, which was hit by Klose with a header and Michael Ballack
with a kick in the 90th minute.
"We had enough chances," Klose said.
And one of them finally paid off.
"The goal came very late, but it was well-deserved," Ballack said. "We won a
lot of challenges. ... We were better on challenges than we were against Costa
Rica."
Just as significantly, the often vulnerable German defense held its ground in
the shutout. The Germans beat Costa Rica in the tournament opener 4-2, but
looked shaky defensively.
The game between the European neighbors was scrappy and featured little
flowing play, but plenty of tough challenges. Ballack, recovered from an injured
right calf that forced him out against Costa Rica, was at the center of most of
his team's attacks.
"After they went down to 10 men we gave everything to get a goal and it
worked," coach Juergen Klinsmann said. "The team maintained its rhythm.
"We tried to step the pace in the second half," he added. "We tried to put
them under pressure from the start. The way we held together and the support on
and off the field is phenomenal."
It was Germany's first win over a European team at a major championship since
it won Euro 96 by beating the Czech Republic in the final.
