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 meticulous planning, even down to employing the founder of Adidas as their own personal boot maker. 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 morale, 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