Day 26: Escape from Frankfurt

En route to DORTMUND, Germany

Ageism: 53 Mundial years
Pallor: Shiny
Forecast: Different that yesterday – sunny and VERY hot

While packing up and saying goodbye to the apartment on Esslinger Strasse this morning, it occurred to me how utterly flawless this tournament has gone, at least personally. No mechanical breakdowns, save for the Cackberry bonking out, which was no big deal. Cellphone coverage is spotty here too, but again no big deal. Otherwise, no missed trains or connections. Solid people helping along the way. Lots of instant friends made. The laptop never quit, knock on wood. The net cards we bought here were a godsend.

PAULO DUARTE/AP

Not everyone survived the tourney sans breakdown.

Mostly, though, it was the apartment that made the last nearly four weeks so much less stressful. The place was big enough. Well stocked. Good neighbourhood. And that porch leading out to the courtyard. I actually felt like I would miss it, which may be the highest praise of all.
Andrea from our Corporate Concierge agency picked us up right on the dot of 10 a.m. to drive us and our baggage 2 ½ blocks to the station. I asked her if the agency operates outside of Germany, thinking ahead to Euro 2008 in Switzerland and Austria.
“Oh yes,” she said. “I am our Euro project manager. I’m just starting work on that.”
So. Euro 2008 then. Whoever goes from The Star, they’re going to have a fine home base.
Now it’s on to Dortmund, and Germany-Italy playing off for a spot in the final in Berlin on Sunday. I think this is your true World Cup final here. Whoever wins, I think they’re each a little bit better than France or Portugal, who meet Wednesday in Munich.
But more than that, I’m hoping for a good, classic match. As good as this tournament has been – its organization has been superb, the security low-key but effective (the perfect mix), Germany has been a great host, and there’s been some good goals (though not nearly enough of them,

LUCA BRUNO/AP

Zidane: Reborn.

the scoring rate the lowest it’s been since 1990), one lion-in-winter performance (Zidane last time out) and one budding superstar (Lionel Messi, inexplicably nailed to the bench in Argentina’s exit game) and the usual outbursts of controversy – there hasn’t been a single, transcendent game yet. Of the games I was at, Germany-Poland still stands out, but as much for the intense atmosphere and the sense that it was a turning point for the hosts as the game itself. France-Brazil the other night was a great upset with some tremendous flow to it, but it was pretty one-sided, hardly a back-and-forth slugfest. Maybe we’ll get it here. Meantime, I want to link to the finest goal I’ve ever been lucky enough to see: Dennis Bergkamp, 1998, in Marseille. There's countless others we've all seen on TV -- Neil Shipperley putting Palace up a couple years back comes to mind, but maybe that's just me (yes, I'm quite sure it's just me). But live? What a beauty.
Feel free to send along your candidates. Maybe we’ll see another one for the ages today.

Today’s game

Italy 2, Germany 0. An exquisitely tense match broken up very late, Grosso scoring in the 119th minute -- yup, it went extra time -- and Del Piero getting a clincher just before the final whistle. Very late here, I'm on the train, sorting through the usual abusive e-mails, so more tomorrow.

Tomorrow’s game

France vs Portugal. Portugal gets first-team midfielders Deco and Constinha back, and with the former running the show they should be more incisive than they were against England. One of Figo or Zidane are headed off into the sunset depending on the result, and the same can be said for France’s wonderful duo of Makelele and Thuram -- and Patrick Vieira, and Fabien Barthez. Henry is finally the same danger man on this stage that he is at Arsenal, and marking him will be Portugal’s biggest task. This should be tight, but Thuram at the back and Henry up front -- plus defensive midfielder Armando Petit out with suspension for Scolari's band -- tip the scales for me. But forget all that, there's a dandy race at the top of the World Cup tantrum board -- France with a tournament-high 23 and Portugal with 22. Gentlemen, start your hissy fits. France 2, Portugal 1.

Comments

[Emilia Betkova]

I really love your reporting! Reminds me of Hemingway when he still was a reporter! I would find it interesting even if I would not care for soccer itself. Actually, I think I ended up more interested just because of your writings! Take care and write often

Emilia.