We and Germany – part five

Return to the scene of the crime! It is often used as a phrase in criminalistics and qualifies that the murderer returns to the scene of the crime. If we approach it with football history, in fact, the victim also returned! After 14 years, West Germany and Albania. Again there, in Dortmund. This time a few meters further from the old pitch of April 1967, at the "Westfalenstadion". Then it was a heavy loss, 6-0. Eight months later, in revenge for that heavy defeat, we inflicted a greater blow than a defeat on the Germans. A disqualification which, to be honest, will always weigh you down. This time, it's the opposite. We lost without claims in April in Tirana and on November 18 we find ourselves in Dortmund knowing very well what awaits us. We are also fully aware that it cannot be claimed except as a dignified loss. It is a slightly different national team from the Tirana match. Përnaska, Çoçoli, Minga, Kaçi, Shyqyri Ballgjini are missing, but Loro Boriçi is omnipotent in his work and acts exactly as he thinks. It is also one of the most… national teams! In addition to the players from the clubs from Tirana and Shkodra, who traditionally made up the trunk of the national team, the formation also includes Popa and Lleshi from Labinot from Elbasan and Sefedin Braho from Luftëtari from Gjirokastra. New trends are Perlat Musta, Agustin Kola, Roland Luçi and Haxhi Ballgjini. The national anthem warms the hearts of the players on the field. Loro Boriçi and Jupp Derwall greet each other cordially. The storm has not yet burst… Transfiguration! Germany knows only victory in the first qualifying group for the World Cup – Spain 1982. However, except for Bernd Schuster, who has already left the German national team forever, only Eike Immel was in goal instead of Harald Schumacher. The other ten are the best possible German lineup. it is, say, the same team that advanced to the World Cup final against Italy a year later, one of the best teams in the history of German football. Albania again had the misfortune of being in a group with a German historical generation. This was immediately apparent on the field. Karl Heinz Rummenigge, without committing too much, clearly proved why he is the best striker in the world. With three goals from him and one from Fisher and one from Kaltz, the first half ends 5-0! The shame is great when you think that only 45 minutes were played! Germans change sides and places freely, do not get caught up in the rhythm, often use finde, often play with a date. From the wings Manfred Kaltz and Hans Peter Briegel are as irresistible as ever, it is not clear who plays in attack for them! In air combat they are completely superior. Physically, there are big differences. In general, they are in the field and we are not! At first glance, it seems that Albania has never played so poorly! In the second half, the Germans did not slow down. Now they score goals even with the help of luck! Litbarski takes a free kick. The ball hits Berisha's body and switches sides towards the net, leaving Perlat Musta helpless. It was perhaps the best evening in Perlat's career! With or without his fault, six goals were a lot for his level and in general for a goalkeeper who had just taken his place in the national team. Leave the field upside down. He is seriously injured, in selfishness! It wasn't his night! All in all, it was neither defense with him nor luck. Any goalkeeper in his place would pray to God for another opportunity, maybe payback, maybe to show that he is not really the one of that evening in Dortmund. In football, who wouldn't want a second chance? God or fate, not long after, would put Perlat again in front of the German team. This time things would be much different… Luaras enters the field, with number 12 and as the twelfth Albanian. If the sixth goal was scored by fate, the seventh one comes from… the referee. If this in Dortmund was a penalty for Litbarski, then what should have been the case of Pernaska in Tirana? It often happens that an indisputable penalty is not awarded and a controversial one is awarded by the referee, who leaves no room for discussion! In reality, there is no question that penalties are a separate chapter in the German-Albanian clashes. Anyway, in Dortmund, the result is 7-0 and the Germans still rank everywhere mercilessly over the fatigue of the Albanians! You understand this when four minutes later, you see Fisher scoring the eighth goal to finally throw the corpse of that evening into the pit! In fact, the beast was not dead yet! Epilogue Everyone leaves the field with their heads down. Most exhausted. Roland Luçi with problems in his right leg after an intervention from behind Shtilike. Safet Berisha feels that the time has come to hand over the captain's armband. Muhedin Tarkaj next to him may not think the same, but he is the only one who can keep the ribbon in the coming years. In the dressing room, Rumenige took Agustin Kola by the hand and led him to the Germans' room, giving him a few pairs of "adidas" soccer shoes. Others, have benefited from a jersey of the Germans. Loro Boriçi, leaves the room of the Albanian National Team and walks thoughtfully in the corridor. He doesn't need to arrive in Tirana to understand what will happen… The boys are also clear but, silently, inside themselves, they seek a revenge… It is the evening of November 18, 1981. Like 14 years before, West Germany won as if mocking Albania. On the other hand, the badly wounded beast, Albania, could not help but fixate well on what caused that wound, Germany. Only after twenty years or more precisely, after seven "battles", Germany would be able to win again without conceding and, with more than a goal difference. by Arian Muraj