Germany’s Miroslav Klose celebrates his goal in the national team’s match against England in the second round of the 2010 World Cup. Germany went onto win 4:1. Photo: picture-alliance / M.i.S.-Sportpressefoto

Now that the French are out of the way with the unexpected bonus of more Schadenfreude than we could possibly have asked for, Irish World Cup ambitions revert to seeing the English knocked out as soon as possible. For me personally, this takes on added significance as the task falls to Germany, the country I now call home.

Photo (cc) flickr user Leo Reynolds

Poor Jogi.  While Germany was still digesting the news that talismanic captain Michael Ballack wouldn’t be able to lead out his team, one of his potential replacements was also ruled out. Christian Träsch cropped his ankle too and will now have to watch the World Cup on TV like the rest of us.

The national media, Bild in particular, is in mourning, believing Jogi Löw’s men now have no chance of bringing the coveted trophy back from South Africa. On the ground however, among the commoners with whom I spend my time, the feeling is different.

“Who do you think will win?” I asked a teammate on my local team as we returned from one of our customary thrashings.