English Cesky Print this page

International - Germany vs Czech Republic

Saturday 1st of August 2009

Germany 27.18 (180) Czech Republic 11.7 (73)

Goals for Czech Republic: Michael Gouteff 4, Greg Johnson 3, Jan Kren 2, Mark Pace 1, Daniel Vella 1

The trip to Germany was a great event, both on the field and off. Emu sausages and Kangaroo steaks washed down with VB!!! It was great partying with the Germans afterwards, and it sounds like they are very interested in more matches like this one.

Back to the game….

Mark’s tactics worked brilliantly against the Germans. He started with a solid plan, and asked his team to give 110%. From where I was watching  EVERYONE gave that 110%. All this in 34 degree heat, and these were FULL 20 minute quarters. We were out there the best part of 2 hours in total. At times The Lions were giving more than the promised 110%.

The Czech Lions went out and scored the first 2 goals of the match back to back straight after the first bounce up. Talking to the Germans after, this scared the shit out of them, they did not expect this at all. LESSON ONE for Germany. The Czech Lions are here to WIN.

At another point, Mark had scooped up the ball and started to run with it looking for space, but with three Germans close on his tail. For Mark, one German is not an issue, but three was a bit too much. Then out of nowhere Sven, screaming something in Dutch and fully on fire, slams so hard into the German shepherding closest to Mark that he is knocked off his feet bumping the other German the process, leaving Mark with just one opponent to worry about, and giving him the opportunity to get the ball off to the forwards for a goal. This was right in front of the German home crowd, and the audience just went dead silent, since they didn’t know the rules, I am guessing they were waiting for a Red Card against us or something like that. But too late; the ball was already put smack down the centre of The Czech Lions’ goal posts.  LESSON TWO for Germany, we left the women behind, The Czech Lions came here to play football, not netball.

Towards the end of the third quarter when everyone was dead, Tommy was chasing a German who had the ball, he could not get his arms around him, but just as the German kicked, Tommy grabbed his shirt just enough that the ball went out of bounds on the full. LESSON THREE for the Germans, The Czech Lions NEVER give in.

About the same time there was about to be a bounce up and the commentator pointed out that The Czech Lions were very weak on the ruck. I can’t now remember who was going up for the ruck this time, but he knock the ball down clean into Marks hands. Mark got the ball off it went down to the Forwards who then scored a goal. The commentator ate his words, and The Czech Lions stood proud again. LESSON FOUR for Germany Don’t give The Czech Lions any break, because we will take it.

Soon after that Greg totally exhausted shot up out of nowhere from between a pack of Germans into clear sky to pull a Mark that, even the Germans agreed, was the Mark of the Match. (I hope we can get video of that one for  the web site). LESSON FIVE for Germany GOOOOOO    LLLLLLLIIIIOOOOOONNNNNNNSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!

Honza and Jakub gave everything for their country all day, Honza really playing his man and covering a lot of the very wide field.  And when the Germans saw Jakub, all they saw was a brick wall standing in the middle of a football field.  Neil’s kicks really did great getting the ball back to the end where it belongs, and Jamie  and Mark C just wouldn’t stop and when the Germans eventually broke Mark, Jamie gave more than his 110%. When Mark got the ball, and was in range of Mike, it was an almost guaranteed Lions’ goal. We beat the Germans all day on accuracy. When it came to the “One Percenters” we were all over the Germans, Shepherding, Bumping, short hand passes, quick recovery on the ball, everyone showed why we train, and what makes us good.

There were a lot more of these plays all day, and it was a brilliant game to watch. Mike and Sam starting injured before they even went on the field was great inspiration and were the key players in the game. What can you say about Danny, he doesn’t stop till he breaks. Our Captain played 20 minutes out of each of the quarters, never taking a break once, and really showing us what Footy is all about.

But most importantly The Czech Lions played as a team, the leader ship in Mark was brilliant and The Czech Lions are very much respected by the Germans, if this was 4 x 12 minute quarters and we had two more exchanges on the bench this would have been a completely different match.

Leading by example our Captain set the standard that we all must keep up with and that is why THE CZECH LIONS will win in Zagreb.

SUPPORTED BY