Twenty-five years ago, in 1990, Germany was reunified, and the state of East Germany ceased to exist. But in the dying days of the so-called Democratic Republic one international football match in Belgium remained to be played. Many of the best players saw no point in turning up - but those who did gave all they had.
It was on 12 September 1990 that East Germany's fate was sealed. At a ceremony in Moscow the foreign ministers of East and West Germany and the four occupying powers - Britain, France, the US and the Soviet Union - signed a treaty that brought about German unification three weeks later.
As the signatures were drying on the historic document a group of East German footballers were preparing for their own farewell, hundreds of miles to the west, in Brussels.
"I knew that that game would go into the history books. I was proud to be called up and we wanted to go out on a high note," remembers Uwe Rosler, then a 21-year-old striker playing for FC Magdeburg.
Communist East Germany had won more renown on the running track and in the pool than on the football pitch. In the last summer Olympics before the fall of the Berlin Wall - in Seoul in 1988 - it had come second only to the Soviet Union in the medals table.
Showing posts with label Britain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Britain. Show all posts
Sunday, December 27, 2015
The East German team that refused to die
Twenty-five years ago, in 1990, Germany was reunified, and the state of East Germany ceased to exist. But in the dying days of the so-called Democratic Republic one international football match in Belgium remained to be played. Many of the best players saw no point in turning up - but those who did gave all they had.
It was on 12 September 1990 that East Germany's fate was sealed. At a ceremony in Moscow the foreign ministers of East and West Germany and the four occupying powers - Britain, France, the US and the Soviet Union - signed a treaty that brought about German unification three weeks later.
As the signatures were drying on the historic document a group of East German footballers were preparing for their own farewell, hundreds of miles to the west, in Brussels.
"I knew that that game would go into the history books. I was proud to be called up and we wanted to go out on a high note," remembers Uwe Rosler, then a 21-year-old striker playing for FC Magdeburg.
Communist East Germany had won more renown on the running track and in the pool than on the football pitch. In the last summer Olympics before the fall of the Berlin Wall - in Seoul in 1988 - it had come second only to the Soviet Union in the medals table.
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
GB captain Leon Smith plans legacy
Davis Cup captain Leon Smith says Great Britain can build on their success and inspire a new generation of players.
GB won the team of the year award and Andy Murray was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year on Sunday.
Murray has previously said that talking to the Lawn Tennis Association about the future of British tennis was "a waste of time".
Team GB lift the Davis Cup
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Highlights: Andy Murray wins Davis Cup for GB
But Smith said: "We've had really good discussions with everyone at the LTA recently to really take it up a gear."
He added: "On the court, we need to keep winning but off the court we have a great chance to do something."
LTA plans for 2016 include taking the Davis Cup trophy on tour and issuing 10,000 free junior tennis racquets.Friday, December 18, 2015
LTA to hand out 10,000 racquets in bid to unearth tennis stars
The Lawn Tennis Association plans to hand out 10,000 free racquets and offer 10,000 free junior tennis courses in an attempt to unearth stars of the future.
The LTA says it will also take the Davis Cup trophy on a tour to 50 different venues around Britain.
The move follows criticism of the LTA from world number two Andy Murray for failing to develop world-class talent.
Britain won the Davis Cup for the first time since 1936 by beating Belgium in Ghent in November.
"We want to make a difference in capitalising on this unique opportunity to get as many kids on court as possible," said victorious Davis Cup captain Leon Smith.
The lessons will be delivered by a team of 1,000 "expert and passionate coaches", according to an LTA statement.
The opportunity for children and families to take up the offer will go live before the Davis Cup first round tie against Japan in March.
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