Home Win

Another classic World Cup cliche:

"It's great for the World Cup if the host nation does well, and stays in the competion until the later rounds".

Know what? I totally agree. Tonight's game between Germany and Poland displayed exactly why the host nation is a major asset to a World Cup. Did you hear the noise in Dortmund? Not just during the game, but from around an hour beforehand the atmosphere sounded incredible. The match preview on 5 live became a trying experience for Mark Saggers and the pundits, fighting a losing battle to make themselves heard over the din. All of which led to a real hairs-on-the-back-of-the-neck rendition of that most gorgeous of all national anthems, leaving a crowd uplifted enough to keep the noise up for the whole game, despite the frustration felt at the home side's failure to find the back of the net. Then came that last 20 minutes, when it seemed that every household in Germany must have donated a kitchen sink for the team to throw at their opponents. One attack after another, with no pause for breath, or defensive re-organisation, descended on the Polish goal, every one bringing with it a louder roar of encouragement, and cry of anguish. Only one thing could have given this game it's perfect ending. One last kitchen sink: Winger escapes down the right... centre back comes across to cover, leaving a gap... Neuville stretches out a hopeful leg... and somehow manages to poke the ball into the bottom corner. Say goodbye to the roof.

Only the host nation can bring this kind of theatre to the World Cup. A great tournament needs quality, but not nearly as much as it needs memorable games. Matches that stay with you mostly aren't about great goals or outstanding individuals; they are typified by the kind of dramatic intensity you could feel in tonight's game. There's nothing more compelling than watching an entire nation go through the emotional mill, and you can't help but get carried along with them. So many memories of major tournaments involve the fate of the host nation. We in England all know this to be true after the euphoria, and utter despondency, felt here during Euro 96. What do people remember most about the 1998 world cup? Someone's man-of-the-match display in the quarter final? A blinding 30 yarder in one of the group matches? No, what they remember are scenes of jubilation, as an ecstatic nation took to the streets of Paris to celebrate the home victory.

Gavin Peacock, BBC pundit, said of Germany after tonight's game: "I don't think they're a great side at all, but you shouldn't underestimate any team that has momentum". Indeed so, and it's the home team that is always in the best position to gather momentum, riding high on the emotions of its people. The more this impetus increases, the more we can expect to be wearing out the edges of our seats watching Germany progress. This is great news for everyone that loves the World Cup.