World Cup Stories: Germany-1

7th of July 1974 on the World Cup final in the Olympic Stadium in Munich, West Germany, the hosts and favorites to win, up against the masters of total football, the Dutch. But in the most dramatic start to a World Cup final, West Germany already faced disaster.

The first German player to touch the ball in the final is the goalkeeper, Sepp Maier, he picks the ball out of the net. Less than 2 minutes into the match and the Germans are already 1:0 down.
Well, what do you do in such a moment? Actually all you want to do is going to Mummy.
But German football has always thrived in the face of adversity. There is a saying you’ve only really beaten the Germans when they are in the shower. Banned from international football after the Second World War and with pitiful resources they struggled for reacceptance and recognition. But with determination and meticulous¹ planning, even down to employing the founder² of Adidas as their own personal boot maker³. The Germans brought about a miracle that restored national pride to a broken nation with the greatest upset in World Cup history.
As footballers we are not as skilled as other countries. But as far as attitude and morale⁴, we are still ahead of the rest.
Now in 1974, no longer the underdogs, and competing for the World Cup at home, can the German attitude and morale stand up to the ultimate test?

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adversity: n.不幸，逆境
meticulous: adj. 仔细的
morale: n. 士气
underdog: n. 失败者

1 meticulous   

adj.极其仔细的，一丝不苟的

参考例句：

• We'll have to handle the matter with meticulous care.这事一点不能含糊。
• She is meticulous in her presentation of facts.她介绍事实十分详细。

2 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

3 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。

4 morale   

n.道德准则，士气，斗志

参考例句：

• The morale of the enemy troops is sinking lower every day.敌军的士气日益低落。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。