It was one of the most difficult weekends for the German All Stars in terms of player's availability, as smashing 13 regular COSMO players where either injured or not available due to travels. With this the coaching team worked hard during the week to reactivate each and everybody who had 2 legs. This went as far as Marcus Dancing Queen trying to convince his grand mother for giving it another try - unfortunately she gave it a pass. Playing against our SWISS friends was motivation enough and so we still managed to get a squad together.

After the goalie Alvin Servus canceled in the Morning it was Thommy Zubizareta back in goal with a very promising come back, after his 4 month detoxification- fitness- & beauty break. The defense was hold together by stand-in captain Heiko Makalele, supported by Christoph Haenga-Bliem and Phil Atio. In midfield we started with Sebastian Schweinsteiger, Joerg Streich, Dennis Bergkamp and Marcus Marin. The Twin Towers Sascha & Volker supported by Andre Arshavin completed an illustrious squad, who played together for the first time in this set up.

The game started with the SWISS trying to take control and putting pressure on the German defense. Both SWISS strikers did well to cause havoc and even though no goal happened it felt like the Germans lacking behind. After some shaky minutes the German tanks came better into the game, but still had difficulties with the quick SWISS "Umkehrspiel". Around mid of the first half this proved to be deadly, when the midfield could not cover quick enough and the Swiss striker ended up alone in front of Zubi to slot home. A few minutes later it was 2-0, after a good header. The German tanks now moved Heiko san in the midfield and the East-German NVA Veteran Joerg Streich stepped back into the defense. Heiko's energy in midfield helped to avoid further damage and with this it stayed 2-0 until half time. The direction during the tea break talk was clear - The Germans had to put everything in, to get back into this game. With Antti Nykaenen and Florian Podolski 2 new promising youngsters came on to help turning the game around. The second half started with the German's getting much better in the game, but the SIWSS still being dangerous with counter attacks. While the game now moved more towards the SIWSS goal, the German tanks did not manage to get to major chances. Still the pressure mounted and after a wonderful run by Florion Podolski the Swiss defender pulled the Notbremse in the Box, which gave the Germans a penalty. With 15 minutes left and the Swiss one man down due to 2 yellow cards, this would have been THE chance for turning this game. As nobody really felt like taking the penalty, it unfortunately was Coach Wolle Petri himself, who wanted to give it a try and it proved to be so wrong! He put the ball on the post and with this the wonderful opportunity was gone. Schuster - bleib bei deinen Leisten à Wolle - better go back to be a coach J. Nevertheless the game went on and the German's still tried until the very last minutes. They got some consolation with Wolle Petri somehow looping the ball in the back of the net from the edge of the penalty box. It proved to be too late and the question is still around what would have happened if the penalty would have gone in. But - Nevermind lah!!!

Congratulations to the SWISS, who played with courage and took the points home, as the Germans were just not good enough that day.

Man of the Match goes to Christoph Hoermann, who not only played an excellent defensive game, but also took the lead to push the German game forward. Well done Christoph. We hope that your Videokonferenz mit dei Freindin went well and that you found all your Klamotten again afterwards ...!

As Steppi always said "Lebbe geht weida Jungs" and even though there are still several key All Stars injured, we will be up for a new fight next Saturday.