ATHENS, Nov 19, 2009 (AFP) – Few believed that when Greece hired German coach Otto Rehhagel eight years ago to take them to the Euro 2004 competition that the team could return with the trophy.

And few had faith in the 71-year-old coach turning a 0-0 result at home Saturday with Ukraine in the World Cup 2010 qualification playoff match into a victory and sending the Greeks to only their second berth in a World Cup (they also qualified in 1994) on Wednesday in cold Donetsk.

Greek national football team players celebrate after their World Cup 2010 play-off qualification football match against Ukraine on November 18, 2009 in Donetsk. Greece won the match 1-0. AFP

Yet “King Otto” as he is called here returned in the early hours of Thursday with his team in triumph.

He quietly left the airport without making any comments but stopped to sign some autographs to the few fans who came to see the team return.

Wednesday’s 1-0 victory over favored Ukraine was Rehhagel’s 100th match as coach of the Greek squad and was celebrated with a surprise birthday cake from his players onboard the charter plane bringing them back to Athens.

“He is a man with few words. He is very happy for making it to the World Cup and was very touched by the surprise from the team,” said Greek Football Federation (EPO) president Sophocles Pilavios upon arriving with the players from Ukraine.

Rehhagel had been heavily criticized in the Greek press for keeping too many of his players from the successful Euro 2004 team and for inviting other players who were not getting playing time with their clubs.

And when the Greeks failed to qualify directly to the 2010 World Cup in what was considered an “easy” group” the critics were harsher.

“This team knows how to give answers when it receives criticism. On numerous occasions we have shown that in difficult times we have managed well,” said Greek striker Angelos Charisteas.

He said he has lived great moments on the team, including winning Euro 2004, but that “this moment is the most significant in my career.”

Charisteas continued: “As we played against Ukraine there was no way they would score a goal. I believe we showed the character that we know. We defended well without giving up a goal, we scored one goal and won the match.”

Midfielder Kostas Katsouranis said that the criticism was beneficial to the team.

“Let there be criticism, but its best to think before talking. We had reached the point where they would kill us if we did not qualify,” Katsouranis said.

He added that on the pitch Wednesday “we did exactly what we planned after the match in Athens, to score and to keep them from scoring. With some slight improvements, we are capable of something good in South Africa.”

Midfielder Giorgos Karagounis said many people underestimated the team.

“We had heavy criticism which did us some good. But at the end we showed character. It was a big win and we dedicate it to all the Greeks,” Karagounis said.

He added: “We never said we play super football, but we have accomplished a lot.”

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Illustration by Manos Symeonakis

“Some people believe football is a matter of life and death. I can assure you it is much more important than that.” When one of soccer’s most successful coaches, Bill Shankly of Liverpool, uttered these words decades ago he wouldn’t have expected them to eventually carry a much more sinister meaning than he intended.

Since Shankly’s heyday in the 1960s, the world’s most popular sport has been transformed into a cutthroat business, manna for the media, a political plaything and war by other means. The Scotsman’s dry humor doesn’t seem so amusing when in the background what was once just a game is pulled and stretched beyond recognition. All this tugging is causing the unravelling of soccer’s fabric.

This self-destructiveness was in evidence last Saturday when Greece coach Otto Rehhagel faced journalists following his side’s 0-0 draw with Ukraine in Athens in the first leg of the 2010 World Cup playoff between the two teams.

The result put a dent — a fixable one as it turned out — in the national team’s hopes of making it to South Africa. Despite the disappointment in the air, Rehhagel had little to be apologetic about. Even if his eight-year tenure in the job was about to end on a low, his place in the history books was already assured. He had steered Greece, a team with a history of catastrophic failure sparingly peppered with mild success, to unprecedented glory.

However, typical of soccer’s growing trend for chewing up and spitting out the people that keep the game alive, Rehhagel received shabby treatment from the Greek press on Saturday, as he has done for the last few months – treatment that does not befit a man who guided Greece to the Euro 2004 trophy when the odds of him doing so were greater than those for discovering Elvis alive and rebuilding Graceland on the moon so he could rent it out to Martians on vacation.

Arriving a few minutes late for the press conference, Rehhagel was on the end of a tirade from an experienced Greek broadcaster unhappy at being kept waiting. A man who had spent more than 50 years in the game as player and coach was being treated like a worthless rookie by a peer who should have known much better. Fortunately for the German, his lack of familiarity with the Greek language meant he could ignore the verbal volley.

But he could not dismiss the repeated questions about his defensive formation. Everybody wanted to know why Greece could not posses the attacking flair of Brazil, while conveniently ignoring the fact that Rehhagel picks most of his players from a substandard league – corrupt since it was conceived and continuously abused by the clubs that dominate it.

In what was potentially his last post-match news conference in Greece, Rehhagel was treated with disdain — journalists walked away muttering various epithets for the 71-year-old German. A man who was feted as a god five years ago was now being dismissed as persona non grata.

How ironic it was that Rehhagel’s shabby treatment came just a few hours before the German Football Federation (DFB) President Theo Zwanziger uttered words, which, if soccer is to save itself, should become as memorable as Shankly’s. “Soccer is not everything,” he said. “It must not be everything in life. Think not only of glory. Think about what is in a person, about doubts and weaknesses.”

Zwanziger was speaking at the memorial service for the German national goalkeeper, Robert Enke, who earlier in the week had committed suicide by walking in front of a train near Hanover as his latest bout of depression became too much for him to bear.

Although a tragedy, Enke’s suicide is a reminder of why soccer, or any sport, is worth people’s time. Dirk Enke, Robert’s father, a psychologist who tried to help the goalkeeper through his dark moments, intimated as much when he explained why his son feared being admitted to a psychiatric clinic. “He was always very close to taking this step but then he would say: ‘If I went into a psychiatric clinic, then that would be the end of football for me. That is the only thing I am good at and enjoy doing.’”

Enjoyment is a word that is disappearing from the vocabulary of fans, players, coaches, officials and journalists. We speculate, analyze and criticize but few people really enjoy a game of soccer any more. If the result is good, then the style of play is not satisfactory. If the team performs with panache but doesn’t win, then it might as well not have taken to the field. We are no longer allowed to dwell on the ethereal qualities of the game: mesmerizing skill, spellbinding teamwork, unadulterated passion and honest endeavor. Instead, we are buried under a landslide of tangibles: league points, transfer fees, lengths of contracts, annual wages and financial debt.

Perhaps it’s fitting that Robert Enke’s words should remind us what soccer is about. The Hanover 96 goalkeeper’s 2-year-old daughter died of a rare heart ailment in 2006 and in an interview after her death, he explained what sport meant for him while his child went through regular treatment. “Soccer was a wonderful distraction,” he said.

One of the keys to Rehhagel’s success in Greece is that he has never taken himself, or anyone else, too seriously. For all the frenzied reactions to his team’s poor performances, he maintains the zen-like calm of a man who knows that he’s just part of a wonderful distraction. Now at the age of 71, he feels no compulsion to pander to the fantasies of many fans and journalists who choose to ignore the limited resources the country has to offer.

Rehhagel confounded his detractors again by securing qualification to the World Cup with a 1-0 win in Ukraine on Wednesday. He will be lauded and welcomed back into Greece’s bosom, until the next poor performance, when the doubts and insults resume.

But those responsible would do well to realize that soccer is not more important than life or death. In fact, it is life, and as we were reminded in recent days, it is death as well — and through their actions, day by day, little by little, they are killing the beautiful game.

This commentary was written by Nick Malkoutzis and first appeared in Athens Plus on November 20, 2009.

In Football Made in UK, publicat in Fotbal Vest dupa incheierea grupelor preliminare din Europa de calificare la C.M. Africa de Sud 2010, am facut o paralela intre traseele unor frati si cele ale unor selectionate…

Nu doar Ryan Giggs cu cetina tot verde inca inscrie, ci si fratele sau Rhodri, in doua runde calificatorii succesive din Cupa Angliei, iar aidoma contrastului intre traiectoriile carierelor lor se evidentiaza si diferenta de la esec la victorie data de sosirea selectionerilor straini la unele reprezentative.   

Sambata s-au implinit doi ani de la o seara amara pentru Albion in preliminarii, Rusia – Anglia 2-1, deznodamant ce ni-l confirma atunci, inaintea aterizarii, capitanul aeronavei pe ruta Budapesta – Londra. Mi-am amintit candva saptamanile trecute de acea reactie parca impacandu-se cu soarta a unor englezi de la bord, tot in aer fiind si dandu-mi-se sah cu o intrebare legitima lansata de o tanara nu neaparat amatoare de fotbal.

“De ce nu interzice regulamentul angajarea la nationale a antrenorilor straini?” M-am fastacit la cat de mult poate fi pomenit fotbalul in avioanele lumii globalizate dar mi-am amintit “momentul Moscova”. N-ar fi rezistat raspunsul asa incat mi-am spus doar in sinea mea ca e lasata astfel o portita nu numai unor selectionate africane in haos tehnico-tactic ci si unor mari si stravechi natiuni pierdute cu firea pe dreptunghiul verde.

Hiddink a pavat atunci nesperat Rusiei calea spre Euro 2008, punand la punct Albionul care-l desconsiderase si dandu-le insularilor idei sa caute un altfel de Eriksson. Olandezul, semifinalist cu esticii la Viena si reamintind de ascensiunea lusitana a grecilor lui Rehhagel, e acum la barajul pentru Mondial, unde Anglia e déjà in carti cu un italian ce a facut uitat rateul lui McClaren. “Dar nu e drept, nici normal!” parca mi-a citit ea gandurile.  

Dar cam ce mai e drept si firesc in lumea asta? Cinstita a fost oare ciopartirea fostei Iugoslavii? Deloc. In plan fotbalistic insa, rezultantele au confirmat potentialul valoric al acelor meleaguri, noua Serbie calificandu-se en fanfare la prima incercare iar Slovenia si Bosnia-Hertegovina stand cot la cot la poarta cu mai potente financiar federatii ungandu-i pe alde Hiddink, Rehhagel ori Trap.    

Ii observam in avionul spre Albion pe sarbii cu Rugby League in piept in lunea imediat urmatoare spumosului 5-0, tineri volubili, dezinvolti si surazatori in ciuda contuziilor de pe maini si fete ori a gleznelor umflate, si-mi ziceam ca putin le pasa de nevoia de vize prin Europa. Srbija. Sunt altfel dar cat de aidoma recentilor lor vecini, croatii, la capitolul darzenie si determinare.

Iar Republika Hrvatska ne va lipsi in Africa de Sud, lasandu-i loc poate unui Shevchenko amintindu-ne de somniferul Elvetia – Ucraina 0-0 si penaltyuri. Va lipsi exuberanta unui chitarist cu cercel in ureche ce din postura de fundas cu 3 goluri marcate in preliminarii califica in premiera Croatia la un turneu final mondial, Coupe du Monde ’98, unde sesarul nonconformist avea sa ia bronzul in numele a nici 4,5 milioane locuitori serband doar 7 ani de la independenta tarii. Lijepa nasa domovino ii cantase de 44 de ori “in iarba” iar dupa nici un deceniu, la nici 40 de ani, acum antrenorul tot cu cercel era si mai mandru pe Wembley. Slaven Bilic isi savura revenirea pe-o insula unde se remarcase in aparare…

Unii, cu “sange” si mandrie, iau bronzul la mondial si apoi inving in Templu, altii, desi cu resurse multiple, asteapta peste patru decenii o medalie, din care in ultimii cam 18 ani abia ca s-au calificat cu autohtoni la carma de doua ori. Asa ramane… Straini ca si Capello sunt necesari dupa retragerea lui Bahramov, fie ca-i drept sau stramb. Babilonie.

Iar pe cand Don Fabio califica la pas Albionul, fratele mai mic al unui fotbalist de zile mari egala pe o scena mult mai restransa, intr-un nestiut joc de Cupa Angliei. Era pentru a doua oara in duelul Salford City – Blyth Spartans, scor 2-2, cand gazdele din liga Unibond North isi ofereau sansa unei rejucari pentru accederea in al patrulea tur de calificare al F.A. Cup si totodata ultimul inaintea primei runde propriu-zise.

Da, Rhodri Giggs, extrema de 32 ani leita lui Ryan, egalase la doi pentru amatoarea din Greater Manchester, dupa ce cu doar patru zile inainte, in minutul 82 al jocului din turul precedent al Cupei Angliei, cu Hyde, marcase unicul gol, suficient pentru calificarea valorand 4.500 lire sterline.

Amintesc suma, maruntis pentru vedetele lui Don Fabio, caci Salford chiar se alesese cu sediul incendiat si istoria de pe pereti cenusa, in opinia localnicilor de mana necuratului. Dar admirabilii fani ai oaspetei Hyde au strans pentru Salford 180 lire in galetusa… fara apa iar Rhodri Giggs & Co s-au aliniat in aceasta marti in rejucarea de la Blyth, cu speranta prezentei intr-unul din cele 32 jocuri ale amintitului tur patru, oferind o miza crescuta, de 7.500 lire. Si tot la 4 zile distanta…

In cursa e si fosta echipa a lui Rhodri, FC United of Manchester, dupa 3-3 acasa si 1-0 in rejucarea de peste doar doua zile, la Stalybridge Celtic, unde a deplasat 1.923 fani. Rezista si Hendon cea in chirie langa Wembley, de care scriam recent, dupa 0-0 acasa si 9-8 la penaltyuri in rejucarea la Ashford. Si vor intra sambata in scena si cele de liga a cincea, printre care nume ca Wimbledon, Luton Town, Cambridge United sau Oxford United.

Cu sau fara Rhodri in Fourth Qualifying Round? Ryan Giggs a cucerit Cupa Angliei de patru ori, a marcat in fiecare campionat de la lansarea Premier League in ’92, a batut recordul de aparitii la Man United al lui Bobby Charlton chiar in finala de la Moscova, dar Giggs nu e numai unul.

Si amatorul Rhodri inscrie pe drumul spre Wembley. Pe aceeasi cale, Ryan a marcat de 10 ori, intorcandu-se intr-un Templu in care juca in ’89 in echipa scolara a Angliei, contra Germaniei Federale. Apoi, peste ani, 12 goluri in 64 selectii pentru Tara Galilor in contul unspearului nascut in Cardiff si cu bunic din Sierra Leone. Anglia n-a putut avea zvarluga ce maine-poimaine face 36 ani, “strainul” Capello nu-l vrea pe unul ca Almunia iar brazilianul nu merge la Mondial. Eduardo.

La baraj, Irlanda v Franta, Grecia v Ucraina, Rusia v Slovenia si Portugalia v Bosnia. In 14 si 18 noiembrie.

Spirou Louis, maratonistul invingator la prima editie a Jocurilor Olimpice, din 1896, strajuieste noua arena olimpica purtandu-i numele, din Nordul Atenei (Irini), dar de cand Panathinaikos evolueaza pe "elefantul alb", au aparut si mazgaliturile pe monument...

In al doilea reportaj atenian pentru Fotbal Vest, sub genericul DRUM EUROPEAN: “PANA” IN EXIL PE “SPIROU LOUIS”, am continuat pe urma lui Panathinaikos, la noul Stadion Olimpic, unde “verzii” sunt in provizorat pana la ridicarea arenei proprii, in afara capitalei, si am descusut indiscretii nu doar despre Cisse.

Vantul puternic, ce a raspandit si intretinut in august incendiile din Attica, suiera sinistru printre largile structuri metalice ale vastului Sat Olimpic atenian si face vartej gramezile de gunoaie ramase dupa 80.000 spectatori ai concertului dat de populari cantareti greci in seara precedenta.

Satul e acum neinsufletit, hartiile se agata de tot mai numeroasele balarii in crestere, uriase acoperisuri si inflorituri metalice ciupite de rugina scartaie in bataia vantului, si ai senzatia ca esti la unghia unui elefant alb, indopat cu miliarde pentru 2004.

Intr-o impietrire stoica, aidoma indarjirii cu care triumfa in maratonul Jocurilor Olimpice inaugurale, din 1896, Spirou Louis, al carui nume e purtat de Stadionul Olimpic din incinta, parca implora divinitatea, cu mainile spre cer, sa nu-i mai fie mazgalita statuia verzuie, pierduta intre noile constructii. Unii au dovedit déjà cunostinte de anatomie a zonelor nu doar erogene.

Ca Satul Olimpic mai e totusi folosit nu numai de muzicieni, stau marturie stolurile de graffiti cu subiect comun. Panathinaikos. Poarta 13. Trifoiul lui “Pana” a fost dezradacinat din casa sa de suflet din inima Atenei, stadionul Apostolos Nikolaidis, unde au ramas intr-un colt sub peluza baschetul, voleiul si tenisul de masa, insa fanii au luat cu ei in exil la “Spirou Louis”, aproape la capatul nordic al tronsonului de metrou pornit de “jos”, din port, de la Olympiakos Pireu, simbolurile intimei si asfixiantei arene ce-i gazduia inca din 1924.

Colajul cu Panathinaikos condusa de Domazos iesind pe Wembley pentru finala CCE din '71 este afisat pe fatada la artera Leoforos Alexandras a vechii arene "Apostolos Nikolaidis", taram de suflet al fanilor "trifoiului"

Unii simpatizanti iti vor sopti pe sub mustata parerile despre legatura dintre acordarea organizarii J.O. 2004 orasului Atena si concesiile in contrapartida facute de greci organismelor internationale influente in privinta curatirii societatii de elemente anarhiste, reactionare. Mai multi fani sunt insa actualmente fatis in antagonism cu Djibril Cisse, desi vara anunta un mariaj roz intre vulcanicul varf si “Pana”.

Din taxiul condus expert prin haoticul trafic atenian de un indian din Punjab, remarc pe autobuzul din fata reclama postului TV privat NOVA la difuzarea jocurilor din prima liga, cu cate un star de la Panathinaikos, Olympiakos, AEK, PAOK si Aris in colaj, cel mai mare, in prim plan, fiind tocmai Cisse, in verde. Si in magazinul de prezentare de la “Nikolaidis”, in prim-plan in vitrina e tot nouale lui Djibril.

Insa francezul si-a pus fanii in cap cu eliminarea pentru faultul inutil comis la centrul terenului in play-offul Champions League, pierdut cu Atletico Madrid. La urmatorul joc, fanii nu i-au aruncat doar vorbe, ci si o sticla de apa, pe care starul le-a azvarlit-o inapoi, alunecandu-se spre speculatii legate de rasism si potentiale chemari in judecata.

Iar oful suporterilor a fost amplificat de esecul verzilor in amicalul de la Volos, 1-2, fara recrutii de lot national, dintre care Vintra vedea si el cartonasul rosu in aceeasi seara, déjà in minutul 42, in Tara Cantoanelor, in jocul din preliminarii difuzat in Grecia – ca mai nou si prin alte parti – de un post privat, MEGA. Acolo, baricada lui Rehhagel, explicandu-se apoi  intr-o… germana impecabila, a rezistat doar pana ce “elvetienii” Derdiyok si Yakin le-au luat locul altor “elvetieni”, Fernandes si N’Kufo. 2-0 pentru Elvetia, in ultimele 7 minute. Fanii lui Panathinaikos s-au consolat doar cu ideea ca amicalul rivalei Olympiakos a fost si mai jenant, 0-5 in Creta, insa macar ros-albii din Pireu se aliniaza in grupele Champions League, pe cand alb-verzii se pregatesc nu doar de “caini rosii”, ci si de Galata din Constantinopolele candva grec bizantin, in niste vremuri cand turcii “gresesc” in a survola insule ale Eladei din Egee, pe care poate si le-ar dori candva ale lor.  

Apoi, chinurile fotbalului au continuat miercuri. Pe cand Grecia era egalata pe MEGA in minutul 90, la Chisinau, iar pana si locul zwei invocat de antrenorul neamt ajungea in pericol, in paralel, pe postul national ET1, campioana la zi e Europei in baschetul masculin castiga la pas grupa turneului final al C.E. din Polonia: 106-80 cu Israel. Asta dupa ce Grecia pornise campania zdrobind-o cu o diferenta de 32 puncte pe Macedonia, vecina al carei nume nu e folosit de ET1, comentatorii eleni numind-o… Skopje, iar prescurtarea de tara, pe ecran, fiind acoperita cu un… dreptunghi alb.

Iar Rehhagel nici nu se poate plange de indisponibilitati majore, avute in schimb de omologul sau lituanian de la carma baschetbalistilor. Fara 4 piese de baza in Polonia dar cu “grecul” lor, Sofoklis Schortsanidis, un gigant ca taciunele, transpirand sub panou pe post de dieta, promisa publicului elen, ori cu tanarul de 20 ani Calathes, tocmai de la Panathinaikos, de unde ca daca n-ai inca buzunarele grele, te poti feri de “accidentari” din varii motive.

Dar starurile lui “Pana” au mize mai mari, acolo, in sala de baschet de sub tribuna vechiului “Nikopolidis”. Nu de alta dar Panathinaikos tocmai a cucerit pentru a cincea oara Europa, dupa ce redresase in penultimul act continental balanta intalnirilor ei cu rivala locala Olympiakos in semifinalele EuroLigii, 1-2, intr-un duel ce ar fi suficient de valoros pentru insasi finala competitiei, asta daca regulamentul le-ar permite-o. Dar imperecherea lor e in anticamera.

Judecand si dupa recentul 1-3 acasa cu Galatasaray, alb-verzii traiesc doar din amintirile "Glory Days", memorii ale zilelor de glorie cu finala de pe Wembley, aniversate la 30 de ani, in 2001, cu un graffitti in preajma G13, celebra poarta de acces in peluza "Leoforos" a arenei Nikolaidis

In Attica urmeaza o toamna fierbinte. Se va regasi Cisse, de exemplu contra lui Dinamo? Cine va castiga alegerile parlamentare din 4 octombrie? Si isi va gasi Rehhagel cuvintele in… germana, daca nici locul zwei nu va fi al surprinzatoarei campioane europene din anul gazduirii J.O.?

Nachdem wir im Februar über die Neubaupläne in Essen berichtet haben, ist es an der Zeit für ein kleines Update. Werden die Bagger anrollen oder nicht? Und wenn ja wann?

Hier eine chronologisch geordnete und bewusst unkommentierte Auswahl an Schlagzeilen der letzten Tage:

• 23.07.09: Essens Stadtdirektor: Stadion kommt wie geplant (DerWesten)
• 23.07.09: Start des Essener Stadion-Baus verzögert sich (DerWesten)
• 23.07.09: Rehhagel: “Baut den Leuten doch ein Stadion!” (DerWesten)
• 24.07.09: Vorbereitungen für den Stadionneubau laufen auf Hochtouren (Virus RWE via ISDT)
• 24.07.09: Das Stadion kommt – “Mauerfall” am 8. August (Reviersport)
• 28.07.09: Handelshof-Verkauf keine Bedingung für RWE-Stadion (DerWesten)
• 30.07.09: Baubeginn festgelegt (Stadionwelt)

Horst hat´s mal wieder erwischt. (Foto: Pressebilderdienst Horstmüller)

Kreuzband- und Muskelfaseriss, Meniskusschaden und Mittelfußbruch – sie sind der Albtraum eines jeden Fußballprofis. Weil diese Verletzungen den Spieler erheblich zurückwerfen und eine Karriere sogar vorzeitig beenden können. Das spürten auch die hoffnungsvollen Fußballbundesligatorhüter René Adler (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) und Manuel Neuer (FC Schalke 04), die sich durch ihre Verletzungen in der Nationalmannschaft zunächst hinter Robert Enke anstellen mussten. Doch was dem Torhüter Horst Dreher in seiner vergleichsweise kurzen Bundesligalaufbahn passierte, dürfte bis heute im bundesdeutschen Profifußball einmalig sein.

Bevor der Stein ins Rollen kam

Die Fußballerlaufbahn des gebürtigen Schwaben Horst Dreher begann eigentlich recht verheißungsvoll. Dreher absolvierte insgesamt 13 Jugendländerspiele und zählte Anfang der 70er-Jahre zu den großen Torhütertalenten. Ein Talent, das aber bei seinem Stammverein VfB Stuttgart im Profibereich mit Helmut Roleder und Gerhard Heinze zwei starke Konkurrenten vor sich sah.

Im Sommer 1974 flüchtete Dreher deshalb zum damaligen Zweitligisten Arminia Bielefeld, wo er jedoch zwei Jahre lang den erfahrenen Gerd „Bulli” Siese nicht verdrängen konnte; das schaffte erst sein Nachfolger – ein gewisser Uli Stein.

Dreher indes wechselte vor der Saison 1976/77 zum frischgebackenen Zweitligaaufsteiger Bonner SC. In den meisten seiner insgesamt 15 Saisoneinsätze bestach Dreher durch Reaktion und Sprungkraft. Doch er leistete sich auch Fehlgriffe und konnte sich deshalb in dieser Spielzeit nicht entscheidend gegen den österreichischen B-Nationaltorhüter Herbert Höller durchsetzen.
Es kam noch schlimmer. Der Bonner SC schaffte zwar knapp den Klassenerhalt, bekam aber für die kommende Spielzeit aus wirtschaftlichen Gründen keine Profilizenz. Statt den Bällen nachzufliegen, musste Dreher plötzlich beim Arbeitsamt stempeln gehen.

Endlich in der Gunst der Glücksgöttin

 Das Stehaufmännchen gab aber nicht auf und kämpfte sich über die Amateurelf von Fortuna Düsseldorf wieder in den Profifußball zurück. Ab der Saison 1979/1980 stand Dreher dann bei der Fortuna erstmals in einem Erstligakader. Jetzt schien der ewige Wartekandidat bei Fortuna endlich in die Gunst der gleichnamigen Glückgöttin zu rücken.

Es kam noch besser: Weil der etatmäßige Keeper Jörg Daniel zunehmend schwächelte, schenkte Trainer Otto Rehhagel dem bundesligaunerfahrenen Ersatzmann Dreher am letzten Spieltag der Hinrunde gegen den MSV Duisburg erstmals das Vertrauen. Dreher feierte eine gelungene Premiere: Düsseldorf siegte mit 1-0 und der Torwart katapultierte sich durch eine hervorragende Leistung beim Fachmagazin „Kicker” in die „Elf des Tages”.

Eine unheimlich Pechsträhne

 Dem verheißungsvollen Debüt folgte jedoch bereits nach drei Rückrundeneinsätzen eine geradezu unheimliche Pechsträhne. Am 20. Spieltag musste Dreher gegen den 1. FC Köln wegen einer Zerrung bereits nach 24. Minuten das Spielfeld vorzeitig verlassen.
Zwei Wochen später stand er dann im DFB-Pokal-Achtelfinale beim Karlsruher SC wieder im Kasten – und erlebte den Schlusspfiff wiederum nicht.

Der Hitzkopf hatte in der 81. Minute wegen eines umstrittenen Elfmeters den Ball wutentbrannt auf die Tribüne gedroschen und dafür von Schiedsrichter Norbert Brückner postwendend die Rote Karte kassiert. Dreher regte sich dummerweise völlig unnötig auf, denn seine Fortuna führte zu diesem Zeitpunkt bereits mit 5-3.
Nach einer zweiwöchigen Sperre überschlugen sich dann die Ereignisse. Im zweiten Spiel nach seiner zweiwöchigen Sperre erlitt Dreher gegen Borussia Dortmund in der 25. Minute nach einem Zweikampf zunächst eine schwere Gehirnerschütterung.
Erneut war der Pechvogel zum Zuschauen verurteilt. 14 Tage später stand er aber gegen Eintracht Braunschweig wieder im Tor.

Doch der Fußballgott wollte Dreher offensichtlich nicht in der Bundesliga sehen. In der 69. Minute brach er sich nach einem Zusammenprall schließlich Schien- und Wadenbein! Damit endeten für Dreher innerhalb eines Monats vier seiner fünf Einsätze vorzeitig durch Platzverweis und Verletzungen – ein ebenso tragischer wie wohl einmaliger Bundesligarekord.

Die letzte Chance

Der Vorhang schien gefallen. Anschließend verschwand Dreher für 18 Monate von der Bundesligabühne. Doch er sollte noch einmal eine Chance bekommen.
Weil Dauerkonkurrent Daniel den Verein verließ, wurde Dreher von Trainer Jörg Berger vor der Saison 1981/82 zur neuen Nummer eins gekürt. Doch war es die mangelnde Spielpraxis oder das fehlende Vertrauen des Trainers: Dreher konnte an die einstigen Leistungen nur noch selten anknüpfen.

Stattdessen machte er das, was ein Torhüter besser vermeiden sollte: Er begann, an sich zu zweifeln. „Es wird für uns Torleute immer schwerer”, jammerte er im „Kicker”. Ahnte er bereits, dass die Uhr für ihn ablief? Im Januar 1982 war es dann so weit: Dreher segelte am 18. Spieltag ausgerechnet gegen Ex-Verein VfB Stuttgart an einem eher harmlosen Aufsetzer vorbei und damit endgültig ins sportliche Abseits.

Dreher flog bei der Fortuna aus dem Tor und kehrte nie mehr dorthin zurück. 1983 wechselte er zum Amateurligisten Wuppertaler SV. Später kickte er noch für den bergischen Fußballklub SV Wermelskirchen. Dann verlieren sich seine fußballerischen Spuren …

Horst Drehers Profibilanz als Fußballtorhüter:
23 Spiele in der 1. Bundesliga für Fortuna Düsseldorf (1979-1982)
27 Spiele in der 2. Bundesliga für DSC Arminia Bielefeld und Bonner SC (1974-1977)

 
B. F. Hoffmann ist Autor der Fußballbücher
Das große Lexikon der Bundesligatorhüter
Die legendären WM-Torhüter – ein Lexikon

Şapte selecţioneri de la Euro 2008 au fost schimbaţi sau au renunţat la funcţie. Alţi cinci tehnicieni au rămas în post deşi la turneul final au dezamăgit.

Iată o analiză la zi a antrenorilor care au condus cele 16 echipe la Euro 2008

Grupa A
Karel Brückner a renunţat la funcţie. Cehia a fost eliminată din grupe.
Luiz Felipe Scolari a preluat pe Chelsea. Portugalia a ieşit în sferturi.
Köbi Kuhn a fost înlocuit de Ottmar Hitzfeld. Elveţia a fost eliminată din grupe. Înţelegerea cu fostul antrenor a lui Bayern a fost parafată cu mult înainte de începerea lui Euro 2008.
Fatih Terim a fost reconfirmat în funcţie. Turcia a ajuns în semifinale, aceasta fiind cea mai bună performanţă a turcilor în istoria Campionatelor Europene.

Grupa B
Josef Hickersberger a renunţat. Austria n-a trecut de grupe. Postul de selecţioner este vacant.
Slaven Bilić încă în funcţie. Are oferte tentante din Premier League. Croaţia a fost eliminată în sferturi.
Joachim Löw este presat de Federaţia Germnană să continue. Dacă va deveni campion european cu Germania va renunţa la funcţia de selecţioner.
Leo Beenhakker încă în funcţie. Polonia nu a trect de grupe. Sunt mari şanse ca olandezul să continue pe banca tehnică a leşilor.

Grupa C
Raymond Domenech încă în funcţie. Franţa nu a trecut de grupe. Domenech este susţinut de jucători în timp ce Federaţia Franceză îi caută înlocuitor.
Roberto Donadoni demis. Italia a fost eliminată în sferturi. Noul selecţioner al azzurri-lor este Marcello Lippi.
Marco van Basten a plecat la Ajax. Olanda a pierdut în sferturi. Noul selecţioner numit încă înaintea lui Euro 2008 este Bert van Marwijk.
Victor Piţurcă reconfirmat. România nu a trecut de grupe.

Grupa D
Otto Rehhagel este susţinut în continuare de federaţie. Grecia n-a trecut de grupe.
Guus Hiddink reconfirmat. Are contract până în 2010. Rusia a fost eliminată în semifinale.
Luis Aragonés va prelua pe Fenerbahce după Euro 2008. Spania joacă finala.
Lars Lagerbäck reconfirmat. Suedia n-a trecut de grupe.

Concluzii:
- 7 selecţioneri au renunţat sau au fost demişi. Domenech e şi el aproape de demitere. Dintre aceştia 3 au avut o comportare onorabilă la Euro 2008.
- 4 selecţioneri au fost reconfirmaţi. Doar doi dintre ei au avut rezultate bune la turneul final.
- 5 sunt încă selecţioneri. Unul (Domenech) este aproape de demitere. Alţ trei (Bilic, Beenhakker şi Rehhagel) sunt agreaţi de Federaţii. Singurul incert este Low. El îşi poate decide singur viitorul.

The facts speak by themselves and “truth is hard like a ball,no matter how much you kick it,it stays there” as Marc Twain brilliantly had observed.Euro 2004 may be “the biggest european football surprise of all times” but european squads did their homework regarding Greece’s greatly defensive-we-will-score-after-we-have wore -them- out tactics.I was indeed expecting an even harder defense from Greece’s side,than being proved with Otto’s choice to use Antzas instead of Amanatidis.But they all know it by now,even Sweden..Kyrgiakos did a great job against Ibrahimovic but..maybe,i say, maybe, it was this man-to-man defensive choice that left Antzas hopelessly alone and Basinas the only creative force in the middle of the field.
No,you can’t hope on Karagounis passion to score when this passion is not being shared by the rest of the team players(excluding here Charisteas perhaps).
No matter BBC’s bitter comments(they always do anyway) about Greece destroying football,its all about tactis and the idea of slow kicks and time delay along with a strong defense works.Yes it does.
What is the problem then? “Rehhagel’s tactics of including five defenders and two defensive midfielders meant Swedish chances were at a premium but also limited Greece’s own attacking ambitions to chronic effect.”.Leaving even Hansson(who?)to be the second man to breach Greece’s defence in 425 minutes of EURO finals action!
I’d say that again and again,we need a second player-personality in attack-front line.We need Zagorakis passion.We need to prove nothing at all.The recipe is right(as UEFA’s study on Greece’s tactics during Euro 2004 have concluded,read the revelant announcement),we just need to stirr a bit better,i’d suggest.And we need not afraid anyone else than our bad selves.Take a look at our friends and World Cup holders,Azzourri,(who chose to play suprisingly openly and ended up with a not-so-flattering-score)and see..In the meanwhile I’ll wait for the new dish to be served.After all,what do i know about these issues?I’m just a fashionista;)Just my kudos to Divaynne who did this analysis BEFORE the match and even got the score right..

E’ la solita Grecia ammazza-calcio quella che si presenta all’Euro08 per difendere il titolo, e la Svezia appoggia tutte le sue speranze su Zlatan Ibrahimovic, che non delude le attese e con un eurogoal stende i Greci e porta la Svezia a pari punti con la Spagna. Il 2 a 0 carambolesco addormenta ancora di più la partita più noiosa degli Europei, fin ora.

Non ci sono molti spunti tattici sulla partita. La Grecia conta sul catenaccio che l’ha portata alla vittoria 4 anni fa, e agli unici due uomini di classe: Karagounis e Charisteas. La Svezia asseconda la tattica della Grecia, e la partita diventa inguardabile con tratti in cui la Grecia si ostina a un possesso palla lento e noioso, la Svezia prova qualche guizzo con Wilhelmsson e Ljungberg, ma i Greci sanno difendersi bene.

L’unica cosa divertente della partita è un calcione che Karagounis rifila nelle parti basse al povero Ibrahimovic (ride persino l’arbitro), poi lo stesso Ibra decide di cambiare la partita, e dopo aver sfiorato il gol con un fantastico colpo di testa in torsione, chiude un triangolo fuori dall’area con Larsson, e con un grandissimo esterno destro, preciso e potente, insacca la palla e chiude la partita. Dopo appena 3 minuti esce Ibra, e la partita si spegne ancora una volta, si accende solo per un gol alquanto grottesco di Hansson e poi ritorna nelle mani degli ellenici che non riescono a far molto.

La Svezia deve ringraziare Ibrahimovic, e i soliti noti, Ljungberg, Larsson e l’ex-romanista Wilhelmsson (forse se fosse rimasto non saremmo qui a cercare un vice-Mancini), la Grecia invece deve cambiare tattica, perchè con il catenaccio non potrà vincere di nuovo l’europeo.

Cronaca della partita.

SVEZIA – GRECIA 2-0

GRECIA (5-4-1): Nikopolidis; Seitaridis, Kyrgiakos,
Antzas, Dellas (25’st Amanatidis), Torosidis; Charisteas, Basinas, Katsouranis, Karagounis; Gekas (1’st Samaras). In panchina: Chalkias, Tzorvas, Patsatzoglu, Spiropoulos, Giannakopoulos, Vintra, Salpingidis, Goumas, Tziolis, Liberopoulos Allenatore: Rehhagel

SVEZIA (4-3-1-2): Isaksson; Alexandersson (29’st Stoor), Mellberg, Hansson, Nilsson; Wilhelmsson (33’st Rosenberg), Svensson, Ljungberg; Andersson; Larsson, Ibrahimovic (26’st Elmander). In panchina: Shaaban, Wiland, Linderoth, Majstrovic, Granqvist, Kallstrom, Larsson, Allback, Dorsin. Allenatore: Lagerback

ARBITRO: Busacca (Svizzera)

RETI: 22’st Ibrahimovic; 27’st Hansson

NOTE: serata serena, terreno in buone condizioni, spettatori 30.200. Espulsi: Ammoniti: Charisteas, Seitaridis, Torosidis. Angoli: 5-5. Recupero: 1′; 3′

Schweden dürfte sich gerade den vorletzten Platz in der Gruppe D gesichert haben. Mögen andere sich über Rehhagel lustig machen, ihn ins Museum verbannen, das Ende irgendeiner Ära ausrufen – da gibt es keine zwei Meinungen, die Mühe lohnt sich einfach nicht. Das Modell Erich Ribbeck ist jetzt auch in Griechenland ausgelaufen. Hat irgendjemand eigentlich einen Ballkontakt von Gekas bemerkt?

Spanien wie üblich also mit Traumstart. Ich sehe schon das Viertelfinale gegen Frankreich vor mir, diesmal aber wenigstens nicht wie 2006 das Achtelfinale in Hannover. Spanien traue ich den EM-Titel erst dann zu, wenn’s im Finale mindestens 3:0 stehen sollte.  Klassischer Fall der immer wieder an sich selbst scheiternden Mannschaft, fast so schön wie die Niederlande.

UEFA has two articles, here and here, and FIFA has one here.

Phantis is reporting that Rehhagel is now poised to renew his contract through 2012.

Bremerhaven (ber). Im Sportgeschäft von Wally Kruso gibt es viel mehr als nur Schuhe Trikots, Hemden und Basketbälle. Der Laden in der Preßburger Straße 3 ist auch Treffpunkt für Sportkanonen und solche, die es noch werden wollen, sowie für Leute, die einfach nur schnacken möchten. Morgen feiert Kruso sein 25-jähriges Jubiläum.

Ein Besuch in Krusos Laden am Rande der Fußgängerzone lohnt sich immer. Nicht nur zum Einkaufen, auch zum Stöbern. Überall hängen Fotos. Auf den meisten ist Kruso zu sehen, Arm in Arm oder Schulter an Schulter mit den Superstars aus der Sportszene. Die ehemaligen Werder-Profis Rudi Völler und Wynton Rufer gehören zu Krusos Kumpeln, aber auch Trainer-Legende Otto Rehhagel. „Als die noch alle in Bremen tätig waren, sind die wöchentlich zu mir in den Laden gekommen“, erinnert sich Kruso, der seinen Kunden gerne auch Schmuckstücke aus alten Zeiten zeigt. So befinden sich getragene Original-Trikots von Völler, Tennis-Ass Boris Becker und der russischen Eishockey-Legende Wladislaw Tretjak in seinem Fundus.

Krusos Sportgeschäft heißt übrigens nicht mehr „Nike Corner“, sondern trägt neuerdings den Namen „Wally‘s Basketball World“. Aber das hat am Charme des Ladens nichts geändert. „Ich habe hier exklusive Teile im Angebot. Aber Raritäten müssen nicht teuer sein“, sagt Kruso.
Viele Eisbären-Basketballer gehören zu Krusos Kunden. Sie kaufen sich bei ihm Schuhe. Aber auch etliche Eishockeyspieler der Fischtown Pinguins schauen regelmäßig im Laden vorbei. „Fraser Clair hat sich kürzlich bei mir Hip-Hop-Klamotten gekauft“, sagt Kruso, der eigentlich immer gut gelaunt ist. „Ich bin sehr zufrieden mit meinem Leben. Würde ich heute wieder neu auf die Welt kommen, ich würde nichts anders machen.“

Das Herz des 48 Jahre alten Geschäftsinhabers schlägt für den Basketball. Früher spielte er für den OSC Bremerhaven in der Zweiten Bundesliga und lernte dort Chris Cummings kennen, mit dem er heute noch eng befreundet ist.

Kruso ist Amerikaner, kam in New York als Sohn eines US-Soldaten auf die Welt. Zu seinen Freunden zählt auch Basketballprofi LeBron James vom NBA-Klub Cleveland Cavaliers. Der 23-Jährige, der von Ausrüster Nike für einen Werbevertrag 90 Millionen Dollar kassiert hat, ruft schon mal bei Kruso an, um zu wissen, was denn alles so in Deutschland los ist.

In der kommenden Woche gibt es in „Wally‘s Basketball World“ einen 25-Prozent-Jubiläumsrabatt auf alle Artikel. Außerdem haben sich einige Spieler der Fischtown Pinguins am morgigen Montag um 15 Uhr zu einer kleinen Autogrammstunde angekündigt.

Immer schneller immer schneller, alle Arm in Arm, wir dreh’n uns immer schneller, Rehakles Alarm… Nein, ich bin nicht schon am frühen Morgen betrunken. Ich zitiere nur die Schlüsselszene des bemerkenswerten Werkes von DJ Ötzi mit dem Namen Tanz Den Rehakles anlässlich des griechischen EM-Triumphs 2004. Ein Machwerk, das zurecht auf dem Müllhaufen der Musikgeschichte gelandet ist. Doch ein fulminanter Nachfolger droht.

Denn die EM 2008 findet in Österreich, der Heimat von DJ Ötzi, und der Schweiz statt. OK-Chef Martin Kallen ließ bereits durchblicken, dass die Hymne der EM von “namhaften Künstlern”, hüstel, interpretiert werden soll. Wer ist namhaft in Österreich? DJ Ötzi. Und in der Schweiz? DJ BoBo, der Berufsjugendliche, der seit bald zwanzig Jahren die Menschheit mit Liedern erfreut, in denen die Textbruchstücke all together be happy, everybody party, celebrate your love this night immer wieder neu zu schnellen Hits sortiert werden. Der Ötzi und der BoBo gelten jedenfalls als Favoriten. Wenn es zum musikalischen Super-GAU kommt: Nie wieder werde ich mich über die Monotonie der Sportfreunde Stiller (“54, 74, 90, zweitausendirgendwas”) beschweren.

Warum nur werden Fans immer wieder mit Euro-Trash und Mitgröhl-Mucke abgespeist? Die Engländer können zwar keine Elfmeter schießen (die Schweizer auch nicht, das wissen wir seit dem grauenvollen WM-Achtelfinale gegen die Ukraine), dafür aber wenigstens richtige Musik komponieren. World in Motion von New Order 1990, sechs Jahre später zur EM mit den Three Lions der nächste Klassiker – dafür kann man auch die Existenz eines David Beckham in Kauf nehmen. Kleiner Trost: Die Ösis und Schweizer werden ihr Machwerk erst im Mai 2008 präsentieren. Und vielleicht macht doch noch Christina Stürmer das Rennen.

Siehe auch: http://www.laut.de/vorlaut/news/2007/06/20/15707/index.htm