HOPKINS DAY 8: Ma Reilly's Irish eyes smiling
by Allen Hopkins, FOXSports.com
The flags around the stadium supporting both teams are great. The German ones read, "FC St. Pauli Reds," "LOTHAR RED MUNICHS," but you can barely see the M, so it looks like UNICHS. And there was one I didn't quite get the meaning of — "Free Willy BFC," complete with two small whales. Who knows?
The Irish ones are even better. There's "Honk 4 Eire," "Newbridge Bhoys," "Kimono Ireland," and my favorite, "Ma Reilly's Upper Rathmines."
Long before the match I caught up with my buddy J?rgen Klinsmann, and we chatted about the German team. He could hardly contain his smile and delight with the Germans' great start.
"Everyone is in a great mood, the players, Rudi (Voeller), and the federation. And today we go through to the second round," a very confident Klinsmann said.
Klinsi, we're boys now, tells me just before heading to Japan he played in Real Madrid's 100th anniversary match and, as he always does, scored. Even in testimonials, old habits die hard.
All the lingering doubts and downplaying of the German team's chances were no more than lip service as the Germans believe they can win it all. When you've won three World Cups, you always believe you'll be the last team standing.
You see, the Germans brought their scoring boots, or should I say scoring heads, to Japan as evidenced by their 8-0 shellacking of Saudi Arabia, with five of the goals coming off headers. The Germans again show their air supremacy when Miroslav Klose heads home a perfect cross from Michael Ballack in the 19th minute. Klose is the tournament's leading scorer with four goals, all off headers. Klose has rewarded Voeller's patience with a breakout tournament. And Klose's goal celebration, a forward flip, is being replayed over and over on Japanese television. Ten minutes into the second half with Germany leading 1-0, Oliver Kahn makes an unbelievable save on a Damien Duff offering after Duff looked certain to score. Kahn isn't one of the best goalkeepers in the world for nothing. With 10 minutes to play, Kahn duplicates his heroics when he eats up Robbie Keane on a one-on-one. The save is so sweet the big screen at the stadium shows his wife. You know the saying: "Behind every great save is a great woman." The Germans look certain to grind out a 1-0 victory and for all intents and purposes become the first team to advance into the second round. However, the Irish won't go away. They won't quit. Very deep into stoppage time, a green flash bursts into the box through a tired German defense. It's Robbie Keane, and this time he foils Kahn, blasting home the equalizer off the post to give Ireland another improbable draw. Ireland keeps their second-round hopes very much alive while throwing the entire group up for grabs. If South Korea has been the land of surprises in this tournament, Japan has been the home of the status quo with the favorites getting the job done — but not today. I am sure Eire, the Newbridge Bhoys and Ma Reilly are proud of the lads. Check back for Allen Hopkins? daily dispatches from Japan. Even in Japan, Allen Hopkins can be reached at ahopkins@foxsportsworld.com More from Allen
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