 Regular visitors to ESPN Soccernet will surely recognize the name of author Uli Hesse-Lichtenberger. Uli does a regular German football column there and it was through this that I became aware of this book and it was under the influence of his regularly outstanding columns that I decided to make this purchase. And what an outstanding choice that has been!
Tor! means goal in German and references the epic and legendary commentary of Herbert Zimmerman during the 1954 World Cup final – Tor! Tor! Tor! Tor! Tor für Deutschland! This match, and the 1954 tournament and team in general, are the centerpiece of the book and in many ways the centerpiece of German football history. The basic facts are probably known by most of you already – Germany defeated heavily-favored Hungary in that final, coming from 2-0 down to win 3-2 and claim their first World Cup. But it’s the context of the match that makes it so interesting and so important. We’re talking about 1950s Germany, still clawing its way out of the ruins of World War II and Nazism. This victory was one of the first moments, if not THE first, that Germany collectively had something to be proud of, a moment of being proud to be German. And Zimmerman’s commentary, starting off subdued and matter-of-fact and then building to an emotional almost disbelieving high, became legendary and a symbolic moment in German history. But the book is more than just this match and this commentary. Uli starts at the beginning, the earliest formations of organized football clubs and the unusually hostile environment in which they had to develop. He traces the evolution of a German championship, the relatively late creation of a national league (1963) due to the entrenched regionalism of Germany society and parochialism of its administrators, and the development of its national team and its phenomenal success during the 1960s, 70s and 80s. And he doesn’t stop there, profiling some of the most important figures in the game’s development in the country. Characters like Walther Bensemann, founder of seemingly dozens of football clubs and organizations, not to mention the influential kicker magazine. Pioneering coach Sepp Herberger, who led Germany to victory in 1954 and rattled off fantastic phrases like “the ball is round”. The Dassler brothers from a tiny village in southern Germany, who became mortal enemies and went on to build two of the largest sports apparel companies in the world – adidas and Puma. And so many great players – Beckenbauer, Müller, Völler, Maier, Nezter…the list is endless. Most important of all Fritz Walter, the iconic captain of that 1954 team and it's a pair of simple anecdotes of his that Uli uses to great effect to begin and end the book. Tor! is an all-around enjoyable read and a great introduction to German football. Uli’s humor comes through at regular intervals, managing to somehow be delicate and roaring at the same time. While comparisons can be made to some similar books – Phil Ball’s Morbo and David Winner’s Brilliant Orange for example – the fact that Uli is German seems to add a deeper, more emotional touch than either of those fine works. Though never openly stated, his pride in German football comes through quite clearly and, considering the fantastic track record, it really is something to be proud of. As is this book. Tor! The Story of German Football
By Uli Hesse-Licthenberger
304 pages
WSC Books Ltd, 2002
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