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Opinion

Germany’s love story set in England

In Europe’s biggest night German football sang the last song that set a new pedigree for the world to witness. The Red and Yellow brigade cashed upon their vintage display throughout the Champions League season which in the end was showcased with a magical display. The Bavarian giants ‘Bayern Munich’ made sure in the end their reputition of losing in Europe’s most coveted final came to an end. For their opponents Borussia Dortmund, who seemed hungry throughout, serves a lethal warning to all other big European clubs that they ain’t there to fade away.

England has been a fairytale destination for German ride with the Euro 96 truimph whose slogan read, ‘Football’s coming home’. Germany not only took the trophy but gave an insight to the slogan that they deservedly took away with them. Since then the Germans stamped their authority in London beating England in the 2010 World Cup quarter-final and now their prime club forces who took the centre stage in governing dominance once again at the same place. It all seemed like an old English class act done in the German way.

The yellow and red flags set Wembley aside and it gave a feeling of a match being played on German soil instead, such was the flavour they adopted in English conditions. It was a magnificent display of Bundesliga football that sent the message outright – a message of dominance. Much has been said earlier by many football pundits that a major shift of footballing paradigm has taken place in Europe’s domestic balance of power and it rightly made sense by what everyone witnessed. Both Bayern and Dortmund compile Germany’s playing XI in World football and it marks a beginning to why they look threatening in the days to come.

In European domestic circuit Germany was mainly voiced by their top brass Bayern Munich over the years. Their last Champions league success came in 2001 and since then it took a span of 12 years to get their hands on the Cup once again. Dortmund for whom European success was seen way back in 1997 finally managed to reach the new footballing heights before falling short to their rivals. Bayern has been terrific this season and is on way to win a major treble this season after pocketing the league and Champions league. There are several factors that governed prior to this year’s Champions League final and it ended based on the note somehow.

THE KLOPP FACTOR:
Dortmund’s manager Jurgen klopp has been tremendous in marshalling his youth brigade in such vicious factor that spell a magic cast over their determination. The sweetness was laid with their 4-3 aggregate victory over Real Madrid in the semifinals. Klopp was quick to note the emphasis of the grand finale against Bayern and how much it meant to be there fighting for the prized asset. ‘It’s a perfect moment, perfect place, perfect opponent,’ said Klopp before the match. For a man who has been vocal on every aspect of the game proved to be just a fitting leader for the ‘Yellow Submarine’.

GOETZE BLUES: The 20-year old Germany International has been a major impact player for Dortmund and most clubs with better financial resources looked to get his signature in the summer. But firstly a pre-mature revelation of his 24mn signing by Bayern days before the final, followed by his hamstring injury that made him miss the Wembley showdown. Sitting in the stands Mario Goetze looked torn-apart with his new club having the last laugh over his current one for the night. Klopp recently pointed out that major clubs are all looking to get into the yellow territory to target out their players and lure them away.

ROBBEN’S REDEMPTION:
The former Chelsea and Real Madrid sensation faced the agony of two final losses in the Champions league in the past three years. He missed a penalty shot in last season’s final against Chelsea that proved the deciding factor with the trophy heading to London rather than staying in Berlin. But this time he made amends for the two previous losses to seek redemption for Bayern and himself by scoring the last gasp winner. The nightmare for him seemed over after he was seen in tears.

HEYNCKES SPELL: Bayern’s manager Jupp Heynckes marked his managerial end with the Bavarian giants in a big manner with this win. It doesn’t end though here with the German Cup next weekend he will seek a satisfied exit, paving way for Pep Guardiola. Having lost the league title last season to Dortmund and the Champions league final at home to Chelsea, Heynckes lived up to his work and fulfilled the dream he dared to see all this while.

Finally, the Germans did manage to showcase their rise in domestic football and now rather just one (Bayern), Europe is set to witness a fierce contender in Dortmund in the year’s to come. In the end German football fans can take more than just the Cup from Wembley back to the Berlin territory.
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