Allemagne acrostic

Germany, write them off at your peril
Everyone I know did, including my friend Cheryl
Running teams ragged with games full of wonder
Marks, get, set go, a Phillip Lahm bolt of thunder
And it was only then we began to wonder, that
News of their demise had been greatly exagerrated
Yes, the team that everyone once hated

World cup winners 54, 74 and 90
Runners up thrice, including a classic with Blighty
Into extra time did they go in 66
The Russian linesman Bakhramov, they swore it was a fix
England triumphant once, but there was no repeat for years

The Germans continued to triumph and all we had were tears
Hark the Olympic Stadium, doom and gloom with Jancker
Emily Heskey beating Kahn, ensuring he�d had a stinker
Made the defence look paperweight, in particular Thomas Linke

Overath, Beckenbaur, Seeler, Netzer, all time stars who rock
Frings, Podolski, Lahm, Borowski, new kids on the block
For all those who doubted, the chapter had closed

Allemagne at home, the team rose and rose
The public couldn�t believe, an Azurri thrashing had them torn

Yes, yes,yes the was the chorus, champagne football was the norm
Out were the shackles once the tournament began
Uber alles became the norm and the beer ran and ran
Riproaring attack sent the Swedes on their way

Penalties against the Argies, ole, ole, ole
End of the semi nears, penalties again on the horizon
Roaring Del Piero sends the Azurri into oblivion
Into the sunset strides California Klinsmann on his trusty steed
Low now heralds in an exciting chapter, which I for one can�t wait to read

� Emdad Rahman