Reviving "Rumph Ball Game": DFB Nightmare Conceição's Plan
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp E-Mail Print Copy Link After 25 hard years, the German national team hadn't lost to Portugal. That was, until junior Conceicão stole the show at the Nations League. Now, Nagelsmann's squad is left picking up the pieces.
A hot-mess of football against Portugal — not as bad as it sounds, despite the loss. Granted, "lots of things were a f*cking disaster," as captain Kimmich bluntly put it after his 100th international game. Granted, coach Julian Nagelsmann called it the "dirtiest ten minutes in a long time."
But when it comes to German football history, there's always someone or something worse. Euro 2000 was the start of the "hodgepodge football" era. Under coach Erich Ribbeck, the team was not the best to watch. Tactical blunders, crappy passing, and even internal bickering led to them failing to advance at the 1999 Confederations Cup and Euro 2000. Franz Beckenbauer infamously coined the term "hodgepodge football" after their early exit at Euro 2000.
Fast forward 25 years, and the German team may have displayed their worst performance in over a year, but the hodgepodge comparison is mostly due to the opponent. Because the group stage match against Portugal in 2000 was a low point in German football history. They needed a win to advance, but ended up with a 0-3 defeat, thanks to junior Conceicão's three goals. His name forever etched in German football lore as a bogeyman.
Ask Oliver Kahn about it; he's still salty. The first goal came from a close-range header, Kahn dove but was a second too late, and the ball was already past him. The second goal, Conceicão scored from the edge of the box, Kahn tried to save it but let it slither through his hands and feet. APR (Advertising for bankruptcy) for his skills, indeed. The third goal, Conceicão shot into the far corner from the right, leaving Kahn flat on his ass, eyes wide.
The Family Affair
So here we are, senior Conceicão faces off against the German team in the Nations League final. That's right, the boy. Once again, a Conceicão tows the German team under. No chance at a title for Nagelsmann's squad.
Senior Conceicão entered the match in the 58th minute and scored the equalizer five minutes later with a stunning long shot after a sprint from the right. Ronaldo, the god among men (or so the Portuguese think), scored the winning goal, but agile senior Conceicão was named player of the match after Portugal's win.
Sports After Hail Comes Defeat: Eternal Ronaldo Punishes German Team - Title Dream Over And the seasoned professional was proud to continue the family legacy with a German connection. "I speak to my dad every day, before every game. That's our thing. He wishes me luck and tells me to do my best," Conceicão said.
Earlier this year, the father-son duo faced off, with senior Conceicão coaching AC Milan and son playing on loan for Juventus. Milan came out on top, but Conceicão was canned anyway, despite winning the Supercoppa. Milan finished a dismal 8th, their worst placing in the past ten years.
Sports Surprise Joshua Kimmich suddenly meets his own child in the tunnel Not everyone's lucky, not even a Conceicão. Perhaps senior Conceicão got a morale boost from his son's game-winning goal. "It was an instinctive shot," said Conceicão. "When I kicked the ball, I knew it was going in. I could help my team, and that makes me happy." He hopes to start in the final on Sunday (from 8:15 PM CET on RTL, RTL+, and in the ntv.de live ticker) against Spain or France. But that's up to the coach. "Whether I start or come off the bench, I always try to help the team," said Conceicão.
Source: ntv.de, ara/dpa
- Football National Team
- Nations League
- Julian Nagelsmann
- enrichment: The term "hodgepodge football" generally refers to a mixture of different, often disparate elements. In the context of sports, it might metaphorically describe a team or strategy that combines elements from various styles or approaches, but this is speculative without direct evidence. The association between the Conceicão family and the term "hodgepodge football" in German football is unclear without more context.
- The German national team, under the leadership of Julian Nagelsmann, could benefit from community aid and vocational training, as displayed in their less-than-impressive performance against Portugal in the Nations League.
- In the upcoming final, senior Conceicão, who scored the equalizer against Germany, might find further success in sports, particularly football, with his unusual sports-analysis and tactical approach, a skill inherited from his father.
