The past is a kick in the pants
Sports junkies are always looking to the past.
It’s what we do.
Every moment, every event makes you say, “You know, that reminds me of ...”
But for storylines evoking history, this World Cup may wind up setting an incredible standard.
Start with this ...
One of the most famous quotes about soccer in general came from Franz Beckenbauer, German star of the 1970s and still an influential figure in that country’s sporting set-up.
Beckenbauer was so influential from his position — offensive-minded sweeper, which he’s credited with inventing — that he was nicknamed “The Kaiser.”
Among other heroics, he led what was then West Germany to the 1974 World Cup title by virtue of a 2-1 championship-game upset of the heavily favored Dutch, a side that featured the incomparable Johan Cruyff.
That match and others led Beckenbauer to explain soccer this way: “It’s 22 men running around for 90 minutes, and then Germany wins.”
FAST FORWARD to last Saturday, and Germany — the defending World Cup champion — was seconds away from basically being eliminated.
Sweden was clinging to a 1-1 draw as the clock ticked down, and since Germany had lost its opening group match to Mexico, a single point against the Swedes almost surely would be sending the title-holders home.
(Quick reminder considering our history theme here: This same stingy Swedish side drew 0-0 in its final qualifying match this year, thus knocking four-time winner Italy out of the World Cup for the first time in 60 years.)
Anyway, with Germany standing on the edge of the abyss against these same resolute Swedes, Toni Kroos stood over an angled, 30-yard free kick with a wall of Swedish players lined up in front of him.
Cue the Beckenbauer rule.
Kroos proceeded to whip a curling blast into the very top right-hand corner of the net.
“It’s 22 men running around for 90 minutes and ...”
Germany 2, Sweden 1.
Joachim Low’s Germans have looked shaky and vulnerable in both matches so far — Low hauled in four new starters after the Mexico match, and even benched star playmaker Mesut Ozil for the first time in the 27 games since Ozil joined the national team.
But, hey, don’t ignore Franz.
NEXT WE have the specter of unfulfilled dreams.
England and Mexico are countries with massive followings in this sport — hell, the English invented it — yet they have only one World Cup title between them.
The Brits won it in 1966, but that was at home in Wembley Stadium, and on a disputed goal at that.
Every four years, fans of the Three Lions and El Tri wind themselves to fever pitch and then collapse in tears.
Mexico has never made it past the round of 16 — losing that game to the hated United States in 2002 — and England unleashed fury in the streets four years ago as they failed to advance from the group stage of the 2014 World Cup.
And yet this time around, both of these maligned nations have shot out of the gate in Russia, with England scoring eight goals while dispatching Tunisia and Panama.
Mexico, meanwhile, also has won its first two – including that historic 1-0 victory over Germany, first ever for El Tri.
Even better, national legend Javier (Chicharito) Hernandez, enigmatic striker Carlos Vela and teen prodigy Chucky Lozano seem to be clicking with something close to magic.
Warning ...
England’s defense hasn’t been tested at all yet, and Mexico often has followed greatness with a pratfall.
Still, both look as though they could storm deep into this tournament.
History be damned, right?
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Steve Cameron is a columnist for The Press.
A Brand New Day appears Wednesday through Saturday each week. Steve’s sports column runs on Tuesday.
Email: scameron@cdapress.com.
Twitter:@BrandNewDayCDA