Germany Pulls Out a Late Victory
There are nights, even at the World Cup, where the stars remain hidden and it is left to the supporting cast to carry the story forward.
Wednesday was one such night when Germany played in a game that Poland could not afford to lose.
Germany’s David Odonkor, a virtual unknown even though he has played for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga since 2002, thrust himself into the spotlight. At 22, he was a surprise choice for the roster by Germany Coach Juergen Klinsmann.
Odonkor had never played for Germany when Klinsmann included him in his World Cup roster. His speed -- a reported 10.7 seconds in the 100 meters -- was the reason.
Oliver Neuville, by contrast, is the old war horse. At 33, he also did not expect to make Klinsmann’s squad. A teammate of U.S. goalkeeper Kasey Keller at Borussia Moenchengladbach, Neuville has played more than 50 games for Germany but has scored only six goals.
He, too, would play a key role.
Finally there is Artur Boruc, who plays his club soccer for Celtic in Scotland but who was in the nets for Poland.
For 90-plus minutes at a Dortmund World Cup Stadium that reverberated with the sound of 65,000 opposing fans, the two teams battled. Germany had the upper hand for most of the game and certainly for its final half hour, when it applied relentless pressure.
But Klinsmann’s team, which had beaten Costa Rica in its opening game, could not break down the stubborn Polish defense. And when Miroslav Klose or Lukas Podolski or Bastian Schweinsteiger or Michael Ballack did break through, Boruc was there to deny then.
Boruc and the woodwork.
With the score knotted at 0-0 and time running out in regulation, Klose and Ballack had back-to-back shots rebound back off the crossbar. It looked as if Boruc, 26, would emerge the star, keeping Polish hopes alive with a tie after Poland had lost its opener to Ecuador.
Even though the Poles were outshot, 16-5, they were only 60 seconds from earning a point.
Then Odonkor and Neuville changed the plot.
Two minutes into stoppage time, Odonkor turned on the afterburners and sped down the right flank before crossing the ball into the penalty area. Neuville, sprinting in, stuck out a leg and first-timed the ball past Boruc.
The German fans erupted and Odonkor raced over to the jubilant German bench, where he and Klinsmann exchanged hugs. Klinsmann had sent Odonkor on as a substitute in the 64th minute and followed with Neuville in the 71st.
“We wanted to bring more speed into the match and both of them are fast,” Klinsmann said. “They brought some life to the match.”
Less than a minute later, the final whistle sounded and Germany had won, 1-0, to virtually guarantee its place in the second round. If Ecuador defeats or ties Costa Rica in Hamburg today, Germany will be in the last 16.
For the Poles, meanwhile, the 2006 World Cup is all but over.
Boruc well knew that as he sat disconsolately just outside his net, staring down and tugging at the tape on his little finger. Three German players came over to congratulate him on his exceptional game, including the Polish-born Podolski and the Polish-born Klose.
“I cannot describe my feelings,” Odonkor said, sounding much as he had when Klinsmann had called him up in May and told him he was going to the World Cup.
“When I got the ball, I looked up and crossed, but I didn’t see if there was a striker there or not.”
Said Neuville, who was there: “It was a bit lucky, but it was more than deserved.”
And a long time in coming. The last time Germany defeated a European team in a major competition was when it beat the Czech Republic at the Euro ’96 final in England.
The only negative note Wednesday was the arrest of more than 300 German and Polish fans in Dortmund after clashes with police before the game, but those incidents took place in the city center.
At the stadium, there was no trouble.
