Source: Reuters
Side note: Someone in our group forgot to post this note a few weeks ago, on the magnanimous mindset of the German soccer (football) team and their coach. Below is an excerpt from Reuters.com about how the German Team triumphed in their games with class. The reaction of the German team and coach to the victory was quite restrained and mature, and specifically noted that they demonstrated no schadenfreude.
Side note: Schadenfreude means "enjoyment obtained from the troubles of others." It comes from the German words for "damage" and "joy."
The original post may be read here.
No 'schadenfreude' for magnanimous Germans
BY ANDREW CAWTHORNE
BELO HORIZONTE Brazil Wed Jul 9, 2014 1:17am BST
(Reuters) - For a team that had just crushed hosts Brazil 7-1, smashed a few records, and reached a World Cup final, Germany's manager and players were astonishingly cool on Tuesday.
Clearly as stunned by the game as the Brazilians themselves, the Germans showed the utmost respect towards their humiliated and weeping rivals, hugging and consoling them at the end.
They also chose their words carefully afterwards, expressing sympathy for Brazil's pain and keeping the focus firmly on Sunday's final rather than celebrating their astonishing win.
"Until today, Brazil played a magnificent World Cup. They are a great team with great players," said magnanimous coach Joachim Loew, avoiding any semblance of 'schadenfreude', the word Germany gave the world for delighting in another's pain.
"As hosts, they have delivered a fantastic tournament."
Germany's understanding of Brazil's pain comes from their own traumatic semi-final defeat on home soil in 2006, though the 2-0 extra time loss to Italy was hardly as devastating.
Brazil's loss was the most shocking in World Cup history and their first home defeat in 64 competitive matches since 1975.
"We had great hopes in 2006 too and you can feel the pressure that the hosts have in a match like this," Loew said.
"All 200 million people here want you in the final. That can make your players tighten up. I feel sorry for him (Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari). I think I know how he feels."
Germany's boss was pleased his team saved their best effort in the World Cup for the Brazil match, a rout that wiped away memories of the tense 2-1 last-16 win over Algeria which triggered widespread criticism back home.
"NO EUPHORIA"
But he said there was no room for jubilation given Sunday's looming final against either Argentina or the Netherlands.
"Now we will have to be modest and humble and prepare the next step. There was no euphoria. There's happiness in the dressing-room but we did not lift off... we don't want to over-rate this. The players have their feet on the ground," he said.
... Germany defender Mats Hummels said the celebrations in the dressing-room after the match were relatively subdued because the outcome had been decided before halftime.
... "We were astonished by what happened on the pitch," said Hummels. "We should just savour this moment and enjoy it. It's something special what we've accomplished.
We're going to do everything to fulfill the big dream we still have."
Source: Reuter.com
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