German team at and in the movies By Arne Richter

dpa German Press Agency
Published: Monday October 2, 2006

By Arne Richter, Berlin- The German national team is going to the movies - to watch themselves. Ahead of their next Euro 2004 qualifier against Slovakia on October 11, the team will be attending the premiere of: Germany. A summer's tale.

The film by well-known German director Soenke Wortmann relives Germany's campaign at the World Cup.

Germany coach Joachim Loew, who was Juergen Klinsmann's assistant during the World Cup said that the film was the result of a never- before-seen project. "We gave Wortmann as much access as was possible."

Two days ahead of the official start of the film, the German team will be parading on the red carpet, accompanied by a number of VIPs including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who even has a bit part in the film.

The premiere of the film on the day of German unity will relive the passion and feeling of nationalism that gripped the country as the national team confounded critics by finishing third.

Former coach Klinsmann, who lives in California, sent a SMS text message in which he said he welcomed the showing of the film which he had seen on DVD.

"I am thrilled," he said about the film that shows the World Cup campaign up close in a way in which it has never been seen before.

"We did not even notice him," said Loew about the director who was even allowed to enter the rooms of the players and film them as they were sleeping.

Most of the national team players have already seen the rough cut, with team manager Oliver Bierhoff saying that it was deadly silent in the cinema when they watched the rough cut.

It seems likely that German football fans will also enjoy the film that shows them football as close up as they will ever see it. "I know what it is like in the change rooms, but for others it is interesting," said Bayern official and former World Cup player Karl- Heinz Rummenigge.

© 2006 dpa German Press Agency