Dour efficiency to prevail

NOW it finally begins; the elevation to fame and fortune or the descent into anonymity.

For Germany or Korea it will be the rise and rise to ecstasy or the awful, chilling, powerless spin into the vortex of failure. For that is one of sport’s enduring truths. Everyone loves a winner, but a loser… ?

Well, be honest, how many losing semi-finalists can you remember? So the enormity of the occasion inevitably impinges upon any consideration of today’s World Cup semi-final in Seoul between Germany and the co-hosts, South Korea.

And, just as assuredly, the weight of expectation will be an inordinate burden on the teams. It will be a manacle to curb and restrain the natural instincts of all footballers, a brake on the spirit of adventure, an unnatural restraint on the human urge to improvise and create.

It is certain the nature of the game, the mood of the game, will be ruled by the first commandment of football - thou shalt not make a mistake! I, for one, will be staggered if this is a classic.

The Germans do not encourage belief in the possibility of something memorable emerging from this confrontation. The overall colour of the landscape of their football has been an unrelieved grey. Korea, on the other hand, have been far brighter.

Their football has been hot, volatile, explosive. It has been conceived in the heart, rather than the head. Can Korea prevail? Can they again draw on the extraordinary emotional strength of a group who are as one in commitment, desire, ambition?

Can they maintain a level of performance that has been remarkable for the demands it has made on the breadth and scale of their physical strength?

Their achievements thus far have been extraordinary, their progress totally at odds with their history. In five previous pilgrimages to the altar of football’s summit, Korea failed to win a match.

Now, in the space of three tumultuous weeks, they have drawn with USA and beaten Poland, Portugal, Italy and Spain. It is true that Korea have made profit out of bad refereeing mistakes, but they are not to be condemned for that.

I chose not to consider the conspiracy theory, the suggestions that the officials have conspired with FIFA to ensure the survival of Korea thus far in the interests of filling the stadiums.

It is, perhaps, possible that the referees who penalised Spain, especially, and Italy when they faced Korea were influenced by the nature of these matches. Seldom at any World Cup has the host nation played before such enormous partisan crowds.

To suggest that referees and their assistants should be able to divorce themselves completely from the influences inherent in working in such an environment is to suggest that man is made of steel.

Hopefully such issues will not impinge upon tonight’s contest, will not influence Swiss referee Urs Meier and his assistants, and will not detract from the nature of the match. Do not discount the possibility of Korea prevailing in just such a contest.

The evidence suggests they have little to fear from Germany, a team drawing heavily on the strength of a glorious past. A harsh assessment of their true merit suggests they do not measure up to successive champions before them.

That is not surprising, after all, for some of their more exquisite talents have been left behind in Germany. I am thinking of Mehmet Scholl, Sebastian Deisler, Jens Nowotny. Germany’s campaign has been excessively influenced by their 8-0 win over Saudi Arabia in their opening match.

They have scored only four goals since then and while Miroslav Klose continues to occupy the leading goalscorer’s spot alongside the Brazilian pair of Rivaldo and Ronaldo, it is significant that all his goals were likewise scored with the head. Therein lies the challenge for Korea.

They will compensate for their difficulties in defence by limitless courage and clever use of their bodies. They will also seek to smother Germany, as they have succeeded in smothering all previous opponents, by the sheer level of their work rate and their capacity to hunt in numbers.

There is more to Korea than just energy, however. They have some superb footballers and none more slick or effective than their veteran defender and team captain, Hong Myung-bo.

His calming influence is very necessary now for he is surrounded by excitable young men, capable of being impetuous, one suspects, in Kim Tae Young with his distinctive face-mask and Choi Jin Cheul.

Germany have their own superstar in goalkeeper Oliver Kahn whose standing as the best goalkeeper in the tournament was challenged only by our own Shay Given. Kahn has been imperious, stern of expression, intimidating in his body language.

This is why I expect Germany will survive. Certainly Korea will be sustained by the fanatical zeal of their wonderful fans, but Germany’s cold pragmatism, calculating professionalism and brilliant goalkeeper may finally close the book on what has been an extraordinary chapter in Asia’s football history.