Und, natürlich, ein Elfmetertor in der letzten Minute

April 12, 2006 7:33 AM

And you thought football itself was the universal language. The London chapter of the Goethe Institute jumps on the opportunity and offers a £35 crash course in German for the World Cup. Start out with these handy play scenario charts (pdf). Or, take the easy route and turn to AskMen for guidance.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane (16 comments total)

Wait, I thought that love was the universal language. It's German? No wonder I'm not the great communicator I used to be.
posted by OmieWise at 7:39 AM on April 12, 2006

You know, instead of learning the German phrases for what happens on the pitch, English fans might benefit from learning German that will help them avoid arrest in the parking lot.
posted by three blind mice at 8:12 AM on April 12, 2006

I thought that love was the universal language

Nope, that's Esperanto.
posted by Gamblor at 8:38 AM on April 12, 2006

Clearly number one needs to set up a voluntary time restriction policy that will prohibit people from reading/posting while at work.
posted by srboisvert at 8:51 AM on April 12, 2006

damn. wrong tab. bugger. That's what i get for posting at work.
posted by srboisvert at 8:52 AM on April 12, 2006

It's still just soccer. It's not like it's the greatest sport in the history of the world: baseball.

grumble
posted by grubi at 8:56 AM on April 12, 2006

the greatest sport in the history of the world: baseball jugging
posted by Gamblor at 9:24 AM on April 12, 2006

Here's a couple to get you started:

Der Schiri braucht einen Blindenhund!
(taunting the ref)

Wir steigen auf und ihr steigt ab!
(taunting the opposing fans)
posted by languagehat at 9:31 AM on April 12, 2006

All together now:

TOR!!!
posted by jouke at 9:38 AM on April 12, 2006

Das Fussball steigt auf und baseball steigt ab!
(taunting the US sportsfan)
posted by jouke at 9:40 AM on April 12, 2006

Das Ole Das Ole Ole.
(general enthusiasm)
posted by bardic at 9:45 AM on April 12, 2006

Whoa, I'm amazed this thread hasn't been Godwinized by now. Maybe that's just reflection though, because I'm Dutch and I'm trying to hold something back. ;)
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 9:59 AM on April 12, 2006

Here ya go goodnews:

Fussball Macht Frei!
posted by bardic at 10:07 AM on April 12, 2006

I think it's hilarious that anyone would assert that a sport that isn't even called the same thing by speakers of the same language is a candidate for being an international language of any sort. I mean, for a minute I thought you we're talking about football and I was confused since you we're talking about London, and German and then all of a sudden, the light dawned.

Of course, I hate sports so I could be biased.
posted by illovich at 10:08 AM on April 12, 2006

TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!
posted by I Love Tacos at 11:29 AM on April 12, 2006

Oh, entschuldigung! Ich hatte keine Ahnung, dass das illegal ist.
posted by moonbiter at 1:57 AM on April 13, 2006