Klose after a goal in Germany's game against England. Photo Franck Faugere / © dpa

 “Here’s the man who is on the track to history,” said a commentator of German footballer Miroslav Klose during the Germany-Australia game.  At first I thought he was talking about the World Cup title, but, unsure, I asked a Brazilian fan sitting next to me.  Klose, he explained, is just four goals away from snatching the title of most World Cup goals scored from Brazilian player Ronaldo.

It was news that made me silently curse the referee who, in a match against Serbia, gave Klose a red card, effectively kicking him out of the game in the 36th minute of play. Germany lost to Serbia 1-0. But that’s all part of the game.