So Long Champion!
The overwhelming presence on the stands of Moroccan fans gave it away from the start what the main attraction of the day was. The menu was rich and tasty but the ultimate taste was bittersweet.
The game itself was not one you would have missed lightly. 13 players, 23 goals with some almost- goals that would have made it to the shortlist for the goal of the season.
Germany, as you would expect, looked like a compact unit strengthened by the presence of no less than two Rookies, Yannick and Florian, recruited by Thomas. Yannick proved a versatile player showing his skills both outside and in goal. Florian reinvigorated the fertile German tradition of attacking left backs and scored a brace on his debut. Adding fluidity to solidity to their game the Germans imposed their law with Johannes acting as the default playmaker.
It was though the Rest of the World team (ROW) who went an inch from scoring when Giancarlo volleyed a pinpointed ball from Yassin just off the top corner. Soon after, on the opposite front Julien hooked a ball mid and before it dropped he sent it straight on top of the cross bar.
Fans knew that even a 0-0 game played by FDs is a feast for the eyes. But goals there were and plenty of them.
Johannes sensing that this was his last chance for the face off with Yassin impersonated both the playmaker and striker role to command the game. Given the strength and accuracy of his left foot it was almost up to him to decide when and where from to score. Single handed he took Deutschland uber alles to what looked like an unassailable 4-1 lead. At which point the late arrival of Ishan gave room for a rebalancing with him joining the ROW team and Giancarlo moving to the German one.
Why is it that it is often the Italian playing the balancing act? It is important to note that Giancarlo went on a loan so that for the next matches his team can still count on him while improving its cashflow with the fat fees commanded by the seasoned Italian player. Auditors too praised the move.
From then on the game took an overall different direction with Yassin, being Yassin, doing what Yassin does best: score and assist all the way through in any form and shape.
Along with him Federico raised to the occasion scoring four goals, one of which was an absolute beauty: he avoided his marker with a back heel bringing the ball sideways and then shot it in the opposite angle. The fact that in goal there was Giancarlo takes nothing away as the shooting angle was nearly impossible. Remarkably Federico played the whole game as a defender.
Anton K and Ishan goals also made sure that Germany was behind even if multiple times they got to touching distance from levelling as the goals of Florian, Julien (a truce for both), Thomas and Johannes (5) kept the hope alive.
But the clock was ticking and ROW managed to go the golden goal at 12-10 with Federico putting the cherry on his and his team performance by sliding in a penetration pass sealing a remarkable game.
The Man of the Match contest was not short of candidates. Gabby made it forth on the votes count as She defended impeccably, never wasting a ball and coming out head high from many one on ones. Johannes was again par for the course but penalised by not being on the winning side though he made the impossible to avoid it. Any performance like this, Federico will grab the MOTM award anytime with both hands. But only from next Saturday when our Morocco 🇲🇦 Super Star won’t be there any longer.
It is only the fitting finale for Yassin to bring back to Morocco (with an A380 cargo) yet another MOTM award and memories which will stay with him and us forever. So long Champion!
REST OF THE WORLD-GERMANY 13-10
GOALS
ROW: Federico (5), Yassin (4), Ishan (2), Anton K (2)
GERMANY: Johnannes (5), Juliene, (2), Florian (2), Thomas
TEAMS
ROW: Federico, Gabriella, Bijan, Anton K, Yassin, Ishan, Giancarlo (1h)
GERMANY: Hannes, Thomas, Florian, Julien, Yannick, Johannes, Giancarlo (2h)
