THE WORLD CUP : WEST GERMANY: : Soccer Fans Rationalize Losing Unexpected Final

West German soccer fans, and that includes just about every man, woman and child in the country, took small comfort in watching their soccer team on television go down to defeat Sunday in the World Cup in Mexico.

For the Germans, by and large, had not expected the club to advance past the earlier rounds and while the team became stronger toward the climax of the games many had their doubts about its ability to gain the golden Cup.

They rationalized that, despite the 3-2 defeat, it was indeed a superb performance since the team played beyond anybody’s expectations or predictions.

“I think the fact that we pulled ahead from being 2-0 behind to become even and then finally lose convinced a lot of us that we really had a good team in the finals,” said one German.

“They may not have played brilliantly, but they played well, hard, tough, and they in the end only lost by a single goal,” a soccer commentator said. “That is not bad.”

Another fan said stoically, “It was a fair contest and we lost.”

Even President Richard von Weizsaecker, who watched the game in Bonn, tried to make the best of it. He congratulated both the victorious Argentines and the German club for their performance in the final, and said, “It was a dramatic climax to the World Cup and I think it will give an impulse to German football.”

Chancellor Helmut Kohl was in Mexico City to watch the final against Argentina.

Having lost, the Germans did not strike up the bands or lean on their automobile horns after the game. It was almost as quiet before the end of play.

During the contest--from 8 p.m. to 9:45 p.m., local time--the streets were deserted as were all public gathering places except those bars with television sets to attract those few Germans without televisions of their own.

Still, there will be a celebration of sorts when the team returns home Tuesday. It will be welcomed by a civic parade upon arrival in Frankfurt.

The country took additional comfort in their team’s performance because it went into games in a somewhat crippled condition.

There was dissension on the team, traditionally one of the stronger contenders for the World Cup. Former player Franz Beckenbauer, who was the team coach and captained Germany’s last World Cup victory 12 years ago, criticized some of the players and told a newspaper that the team would be lucky to get to the semifinals.

Second string goalie Uli Stein complained about not being played in the first round and was sent home after a bitter argument with Beckenbauer.

In the first round, Germany actually lost to Denmark, 2-0. But the team pulled itself together and began the push to the final with solid if unexciting football. Its discipline, strength and fortitude was apparent Sunday when it came back from a 2-0 deficit to tie the score before losing on an Argentina goal in the last few minutes of the game.