German Cup: Dreams up for Grabs

David vs. Goliath contests in soccer always attract the attention of fans, even those not really interested in the game. Seldom is there a huge upset like the one that happened this week when Germany demolished San Marino 13-0.

But when it does, a supporter who witnessed the shocking outcome will fondly remember it over the years. For example, fourth-division FC Magdeburg's heart-stopping victory in penalties against Bayern Munich in November 2000. And we should remember that this was not a Munich club that had an unusually poor season. That team would go on to win the Champions League against Valencia.

Such a possibility makes domestic Cup competitions around Europe popular and shows that minnows stocked with students, bank tellers, and carpenters can sometimes swallow the big clubs.

Songs written

The stages for the contests against amateur clubs all take place in grounds that at times resemble high school stadiums more than the glamour of top-flight European soccer. One-time tasks must be accomplished without any hitches. Camera teams from German public television must be catered to, extra rooms for doping tests set up, even coaching boxes.

"It wasn't clear to us that the planning would take on such dimensions," said Gerd Olbrich, chair of fifth-division side TSG Thannhausen, which are welcoming six-time German champions Borrusia Dortmund.

The club's board may be dealing with the formalities demanded from the German Soccer Association (DFB), but the massive support from the 6,629 residents of the tiny south Bavarian community is evident. They have written a song to irritate the visitors and their 800 supporters traveling from the north, who traditionally wear black-and-yellow. Even the band's name is supposed to intimidate Dortmund -- "The Hornets from Mars".

Grass cut for free

Emotions before these matches do run high but the teams must also think of more earthly things -- like cutting the grass. The amateurs from Bremerhaven must have forgotten that before playing Schalke last year or couldn't afford to cut it. Or they thought it would be to their advantage.

Then, booting the ball forward in the air was mandatory. The grass was so long that shots on the ground rolled harmlessly to the goalkeeper. And attempts to dribble the ball ended with it advancing a few feet before the dribbler unwittingly stumbled over it. Nevertheless, the Royal Blues managed to overcome the vexing problem and won 3-0.

The club Westfalia Herne, not located far from the Schalke city of Gelsenkirchen, has received the generous support of the city which mowed the grass to a playable height for free.

The German Cup is a chance for weekend warriors to stand face-to-face, and tread boot-to-boot against international stars. Seldom does it come to a second game for teams like Pirmasens (they play Bremen) or Rossbach (they face Mönchengladbach). But probably in every locker room of the 28 amateur clubs participating in this season's Cup, the words "FC Magdeburg" will be written on the chalkboard to remind the players that dreams do occasionally come true.