a month of smiles
by mav
“For this World Cup, Germany changed its football style as well as its personality, adopting new training methods brought in by its California-based coach Jürgen Klinsman [...] he almost jumped out of his shoes when Germany leveled the score with Argentina. Can’t imagine Franz Beckenbauer leaping into the arms of his assistant. [...] Amazing that a nation like Germany – whose historical and psychological burden is deservedly weighty – can transform itself for the sake of a football tournament, with wondrous results: it’s become a ridiculously happy country for the time being, and its Mannschaft has exceeded expectations.”
- Bill Saporito in TIME, July 10, 2006
