Toughened-up Spain look to seal Euro deal against the Germans

Footballing failures - following quickly on from the bounding hope that preceded them - had become so synonymous with the Spanish national team that the phrase 'perennial underachievers' became an almost permanent prefix to the word 'Spain'.

Before this tournament it had been 24 years since Spain progressed beyond the quarter-finals of a competition.

Now their footballing redemption would be complete if they can take that final step and beat a team that has always been the virtual antithesis of the Spaniards.

While Spain have often flattered to deceive at big tournaments, Germany frequently scrap and bully their way further than they seem to merit, such as in 2002 when one of the worst German teams in living memory reached the World Cup final.

Although Spain may be shedding their unwanted tag, Germany show no signs of parting from their traditions.

While it is true to say they played well in their opening match against Poland, since then they have been clearly second best.

And yet, as they often do, they will line up in the final with only a brave man betting against them.

But Spain coach Luis Aragones believes that his team have now developed the mental strength to make their superior ball skills tell against the Germans, insisting that they have learnt from their World Cup disappointment of two years ago when France beat them in the second round.

Germany defender Christophe Metzelder is not so sure Spain have completely overcome the demons of their past, though, and he should know as he plays for Real Madrid.

"I know the Spanish have real respect for us, but there is a self-inflicted trauma in the team, it has taken them decades to move beyond the quarter-final of a tournament and that could be a factor," he said.

"They will respect that, but this is a big game and big games have a different set of laws."

It's not just Spain concentrating on the mental aspect of this game, though, as Bierhoff, who scored the winning goal the last time his country won a title, with a golden goal in the 1996 European Championships, said his team also need to overcome certain obstacles.

"The players need to approach the final in a positive mental state without fear," said Bierhoff.

"Against Croatia, Turkey and Austria, the players were nervous and almost cramped up through fear of losing to a so-called 'minor nation'.

Vocabulary

confident, adj: being sure; having a strong belief

fragility, n: likelihood of breaking or getting damaged

to dog, v: to keep following all the time; to be with you all the time

failure, n: fact of being not successful

to precede, v: to go or come before

synonymous, adj: being the same or similar in meaning

underachiever, n: person who performs below what is expected from him

prefix, n: something that goes before another word

antithesis, n: contrast; direct opposite

trauma, n: experience something that is painful and that people remember

Questions

1. Which team is expected to win the final?

a. Italy

b. Spain

c. France

d. Germany

2. According to this article, German teams frequently...

a. play well but lose.

b. play badly but win.

c. play great and win.

d. play poorly and lose.

3. If the Spanish team is the antithesis of the German team, they...

a. play well but lose.

b. play badly but win.

c. play great and win.

d. play poorly and lose.

4. When was the last time a German team won a title?

a. 1966

b. 1982

c. 1996

d. 2006

5. What was special about the German team's last opponents?

a. They usually win.

b. They usually don't play very well.

c. They have long traditions of the sport.

d. They are tough and often injure opposing players.

Synonyms

Which of the following words replace the ones from the passage best?

1. overcome

a. deny

b. accept

c. master

d. surrender

2. perennial

a. factual

b. constant

c. guaranteed

d. uncharacteristic

3. redemption

a. reward

b. recovery

c. persistence

d. condemnation

4. shed

a. value

b. enrich

c. enforce

d. throw off

5. tell

a. talk

b. spy

c. count

d. protest

KEY

Questions             1. d, 2. b, 3. a, 4. c, 5. b

Synonyms             1. c, 2. b, 3. b, 4. d, 5. c

By Horst Baelz