DOUBLE DEUTSCH: German coach plays lead in Greek drama
by Allen Hopkins, FOXSports.com
October 6, 2001 (Choose one): England/Germany secure automatic 2002 World Cup Finals berth.
Cups, championships, and most certainly world cup qualifying places, are susceptible to the same strange fate that govern our lives. The unthinkable happens, and you can't believe while it does. We rationalize what doesn't seem possible by claiming, "Stranger things have happened". So it goes with Germany's World Cup qualifying.
No one, at least not in Deutschland, thought that the scrappy Brits would invade Munich to hand Germany a 5-1 drubbing. The Germans had even accepted an invitation to play Korea on the dates of the Euro group playoffs.
But then came all those goals out of Liverpool. So, if England beats Greece at Old Trafford this weekend they'll be travelling to Korea/Japan come the spring. If England draw and Germany beats Finland at home, the Germans secure the automatic bid. The runner-up will be favored to beat Ukraine or Belarus in the November playoffs.
England should beat the Greek side; they've beaten them seven times in seven matches since 1971. In fact, Greece has scored just once while conceding 17 goals. But the England squad is weakened by injury. Michael Owen, Sol Campbell, Wes Brown are out. David Seaman and Rio Ferdinand are questionable. Based on a healthy Owen alone, the smart pick would be England. Now the sight of Martin Keown has made English supporters searching for another nerve-calming pint.
All the while the Germans play coy. Concerned, but not worried. Why? They have a get-out-of-jail free card.
Deep inside the DFB, plans were made for what might happen and did. After all, Germany closed down Wembley. Revenge would have to be handed down by England. Revenge was delivered. Turn to Plan B.
Enter new Greece national team coach Otto Rehhagel.
The 63 year-old German enjoys legendary status in Deutschland. He helped turn second division Werder Bremen into a genuine European power. Rehhagel's Bremen won two Bundesliga titles and a Cup-Winners' Cup before being lured away by Bayern Munich. Unfortunately, Rehhagel failed to settle in Bavaria and at the very end was somewhat humiliated by Franz Beckenbauer. The Kaiser fired him days before Bayern's 1996 UEFA Cup win over a Bordeaux team featuring Zinedine Zidane and Bixente Lizarazu.
Sometimes fate is good.
King Otto moved to Kaiserslautern, and in 1998, the Red Devils made history becoming the first newly-promoted side to win the Bundesliga. It was so perfectly sweet to steal the title from Bayern, who've won every league title since. The pressure, however, eventually got to Rehhagel and his "Otto-cracy" came to an end the final day of September 2000.
Six days later on October 6th, Andy Brehme was named new Kaiserslautern coach. The very next day Germany beat England 1-0. Less than 12 months later Rehhagel emerges as Greece's coach.
Coincidence? Hmmm ... more like conspiracy.
Enter the shrewd, slick deal-making Beckenbauer to tell Rehhagel it's his civic duty to save his beloved Germany from old-world enemy England. All he has to do is take Greece to the "Theater of Dreams" and close the curtains on England. Germany beats Finland and escapes playoff uncertainty. The plan was set in motion when the final whistle blew in Munich.
Is it possible Greece can hold England to a draw and Germany beat Finland? The Germans think so. Is it pure coincidence that Rehhagel is in charge of Greece in case the Germans need timely intervention?
"My heart still beats for Germany," Rehhagel said recently. "A win and I will be a hero in Greece. If we get a win or a draw I will be a hero in Germany. It is a wonderful opportunity. I will do whatever is in my power to ensure that Germany finish on top of the group."
No one can say Germans aren't prepared. So if it all goes according to Plan B, ask yourself -- conspiracy or coincidence in this Greek drama?
You can watch Allen Hopkins live every Saturday and Sunday as he covers the 2001-02 Bundesliga season on Fox Sports World.
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