England and Germany will meet again on Tuesday (29/6/2021) at 11 p.m. Western Indonesia Time. This meeting is deemed too early, and neither team like having to meet so early.
By
Sindhunata
·5 minutes read
AP PHOTO/RUI VIEIRA
England players stretch during a training session at St George\'s Park, Burton upon Trent, England, Monday June 28, 2021, ahead of their Euro 2020 soccer match round of 16 against Germany at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday.
The Wembley goal of 1966 was mystical and historic. The memory of that goal always comes back whenever England and Germany meet. Whether that goal was legal or not remains uncertain, and a mystery. As for Germany, that goal is the grief that always challenges their spirit every time they play against England, including in the last 16 of the Euro 2020.
The score during that historic game was tied 2-2 after 90 minutes, and the match was extended. Geoff Hurst\'s right foot shot in the 101st minute was driven away by the quick reflexes of West Germany goalkeeper Hans Tilkowski. But Swiss referee Gottfried Dienst confirmed it as a goal after consulting with linesman Gospodin Bachramow of Russia.
The young West German players Franz Beckenbauer, Wolfgang Overath and Wolfgang Weber ran up to the linesman and protested.
"But Captain Uwe Seeler sent us off saying, stop protesting, the referee has decided!" so Weber said on recalling the misfortune. “Us young [players] wanted to demand justice. But in the end we obeyed, because that was the discipline of football that we were indoctrinated in at that time." In the end, West Germany lost 2-4 and had to watch England crowned as the champions.
"The goal was confirmed, and what followed is history," said football writer Markus Hesselmann.
For England, that goal is its capital for optimism every time it meets Germany, especially at Wembley. For Germany, that goal was a disappointment that encouraged them to explore their football identity.
The 1966 generation of German footballers was not as grand as the players of 1954 and 1974. With the “Miracle of Bern” in 1954, this generation of footballers represented West German revival in politics and economics. “We have become someone again,” was their motto, which reflected the national sentiment that emerged after its defeat in the Second World War.
CHRISTOF STACHE / AFP
(L-R) Germany\'s midfielder Jonas Hoffmann, midfielder Toni Kroos, forward Kai Havertz, defender Robin Gosens and midfielder Florian Neuhaus warm up during an MD-1 training session at the team\'s base camp in Herzogenaurach on June 28, 2021, on the eve of their UEFA EURO 2020 round of 16 football match against England.
Meanwhile, the 1974 generation of German players was more glamorous. Günter Netzer, Paul Breitner, and of course, Beckenbauer, were all great players. In addition, they were modern German youth at a time of economic stability. They were also believed to represent a generation that was critical of the authorities. As Breitner noted, this generation was admired because they dared to rebel.
Generation ‘66 was different from all of them. They were quiet, hard working, obedient, and exhibited individuality. Throughout his career, Uwe Seeler remained loyal to the Hamburger SV club. Wolfgang Weber also never left FC Köln. Upholding principles and discipline was the essence of this straightforward generation.
Their straightforward nature coincided with Germany’s political and economic situation in the 1960s. Under second chancellor Ludwig Erhard, Germany was pioneering its economic miracle. Many concerns and hard work were emphasized.
German football at the time was quiet and calm in performance, without producing many achievements. But that was when they dug deep for some self-reflection. So the Wembley goal is a symbol of how Germans have determined their football history. “Wembley liegt uns (suits us)," said German captain Manuel Neuer ahead of their match against England.
Indeed, after that Wembley goal, history was on Germany\'s side every time they met England. In the 1972 European Cup quarterfinals, Germany under Helmut Schön beat host England, 3-1. In the 1996 European Cup semifinals, Germany again trounced England in a dramatic penalty shootout. England was even overturned at the sacred stadium, Wembley. This defeat was repeated at the 1990 World Cup semifinals, when they were eliminated by Germany, also on penalties.
AP PHOTO/RUI VIEIRA
England\'s manager Gareth Southgate smiles during a training session at St George\'s Park, Burton upon Trent, England, Monday June 28, 2021, ahead of their Euro 2020 soccer match round of 16 against Germany at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday.
England and Germany will meet again on Tuesday (29/6/2021) at 11 p.m. Western Indonesia Time. This meeting is deemed too early, and neither team like having to meet so early. Moreover, their meeting takes place at Wembley, which has left historical questions about their fate. But what can be done, when history also seems to want it?
England and Germany are both meeting in a less than ideal condition. England won the group with very few goals. Meanwhile, Germany emerged from the “Hell Group” with a limp.
"If you look at the two teams, position after position, they are almost equally strong. The chance is 50/50. Their performance on that day will be decisive to the victory," said German manager Jürgen Klinsmann, who is well aware of the strengths of both teams. “It is going to be a very exciting match. It could end up in a penalty shootout again," Klinsmann said.
If you look at the two teams, position after position, they are almost equally strong. The chance is 50/50.
A penalty shootout? This cannot be allowed to happen, especially for England under its current coach. Understandably for English manager Gareth Southgate, a penalty against Germany is also daunting. At the 1996 European Cup, the semifinal match between England and Germany continued into a penalty shootout after the score was tied 1-1. The All England players scored against Andreas Köpke at the goalposts, with Southgate the only one who didn’t score. Then Andreas Möller came in and beat England goalkeeper David Seamann. Germany won, and Southgate has remained traumatized until now.
So Southgate does not want the next meet-up against Germany to pass into another penalty round. And he must accept it when it is said, "Southgate has not been able to overcome the trauma of penalties in the past." He definitely does not want a repeat trauma. So he is determined to emphasize collectivity and has asked the team to appear effective, despite their few goals.
