Germany's World Cup heroes take to silver screen

Memories of Germany's World Cup triumph will be rekindled on Monday when Die Mannschaft (The Team) hits cinemas and Joachim Loew's squad receives the country's highest sports award.

After the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall on Sunday, Germany's capital is preparing to relive the soccer-mad nation's Brazil 2014 triumph.

The 90-minute movie gets its premiere when the behind-the-scenes story of Germany's fourth World Cup triumph is told.

Earlier on Monday, the 23-man squad, which clinched the title in Brazil, will receive the Silver Laurel Leaf - the country's top award for sports success - from president Joachim Gauck at his Schloss Bellevue residence.

Loew's squad will also receive its official World Cup winners badge from soccer's governing body FIFA which it will wear for its Euro 2016 qualifier against Gibraltar on Nov 14 and for an away friendly in Spain four days later.

The documentary, which goes on general release onWednesday, tells the story from Germany's pre-World Cup training camp in north Italy through to its extra-time victory over Argentina at Rio de Janeiro's iconic Maracana stadium.

The project was filmed by the German Football Federation (DFB), which had planned to use the footage for motivation purposes, but was turned into a documentary after Germany's triumph.

"Brazil has Neymar, Argentina has Messi, Portugal has Ronaldo, Germany has a team," is the quote from England captain Steven Gerrard following Germany's 7-1 semifinal drubbing of host Brazil which opens Die Mannschaft.

As well as footage of team talks, motivational sessions and player interviews, the film promises to capture some of the pranks and humor from within the squad.

A teaser clip shows winger Thomas Mueller wearing a traditional Bavarian Dirndl dress as a forfeit at a team breakfast.

"Abroad, everyone calls us 'The Mannschaft'," explained team manager Oliver Bierhoff.

"The film gets across all the emotions we experienced during the World Cup. I told the crew to shoot it as if we would become world champions.

"We hope to bring the World Cup closer to our fans again and show a different side of how the team experienced the World Cup. And, of course, we want to show a few goals."

Oliver Bierhoff, the team manager, has promised there will be a "few fireworks" at the premiere and the film will be on sale as a DVD just before Christmas.

The proceeds will go to the foundations of both the DFB and FIFA, who waived their right to the material in order for the film to be made.

(China Daily 11/09/2014 page8)