大赛在即 德国球星晒“怪癖”
Germany's top stars reveal World Cup rituals
German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer attends a training session in Appiano, near the north Italian city of Bolzano on May 28. Neuer has revealed he likes to touch the goalposts before the game starts for a bit of good luck. (Agencies)
Germany's top stars have revealed the rituals which they hope will help the national side claim their fourth World Cup title in South Africa next month.
The Germans face Hungary in their penultimate World Cup warm-up match in Budapest on Saturday and open their South African campaign against Australia in Durban on June 13 before facing Serbia and Ghana in Group D.
Germany won the World Cup in 1954, 1974 and 1990 and are bidding to win a fourth title, which will give them a fourth star above the German Football Federation (DFB) badge on their traditional white shirts.
Their top players told the German fans' website the rituals they need to experience before running out to represent their country.
"My ritual, which I want and need before a game, is when the team stands as a unit in a circle. That gives me a lift," said new captain Philipp Lahm, who replaces ankle-injury victim Michael Ballack as skipper.
Schalke 04 goalkeeper Manuel Neuer said he has to touch the goalposts before the game starts.
"Just before the whistle at the start of the game, I touch each of the goalposts and the crossbar once," he said.
"This simply does me a bit of good."
Centre-back Per Mertesacker says he ignores the razor for a few days.
"He who shaves, loses," said the Werder Bremen defender.
Germany's vice-captain and Bayern Munich midfield star Bastian Schweinsteiger likes to be last to arrive at the stadium.
"With the national team, I am always the last off the bus and the last to run out on the pitch," he said.
"I always wear white boots. When I look down and see my white boots, I feel good."
National coach Joachim Loew prefers to take a more introspective approach.
"I like to go into myself," he said.
"I consider whether we have discussed everything. I watch the players prepare. Then I normally get a positive feeling."
(Read by Renee Haines. Renee Haines is a journalist at the China Daily Web site.)
德国国家足球队的球星们日前纷纷晒出他们在比赛前的一些“怪癖”，并希望这些“怪癖”能帮助他们捧得第四个世界杯冠军奖杯。本届世界杯赛将于本月在南非举行。
德国队于上周六在布达佩斯与匈牙利队进行了世界杯前的倒数第二场热身赛。本月13日，他们将在南非的德班对阵澳大利亚队，打响德国在本届世界杯上的首场比赛，此后将对阵同分在D组的塞尔维亚和加纳队。
德国曾在1954年、1974年和1990年赢得世界杯冠军，并力求夺得第四个世界杯冠军，如果目标实现，他们传统白色球衣上所印的德国足联徽章的上方将出现第四颗星。
日前，德国队的主力队员们向德国球迷网站透露了他们在赛前的一些“怪癖”。
代替脚踝受伤的迈克尔•巴拉克担任国家队队长的菲利普•拉姆说：“我的老规矩是，在赛前必须要让全队站成一个圈，这让我受到鼓舞。”
“沙尔克04”足球俱乐部的守门员曼努埃尔•诺伊尔说，他在比赛开始前必须摸摸球门柱。
他说：“在比赛哨声吹响之前，我必须摸一下两边的门柱和球门横梁。”
“这对于我来说确实有点作用。”
中后卫球员佩尔•默特萨克说他在比赛前一般好几天不刮胡子。
这位云达•不莱梅俱乐部的后卫说：“谁刮胡子谁就输。”
德国队副队长、拜仁慕尼黑俱乐部明星中场球员巴斯蒂安•施魏因斯泰格喜欢最后一个到达球场。
他说：“在随国家队比赛时，我总是最后一个下巴士，最后一个上场。”
“我一定要穿白色的球鞋。每当我低下头看见脚上的白色球鞋时，我感觉就会很好。”
国家队教练尤阿希姆•勒夫则喜欢在比赛前内省一番。
他说：“我喜欢自己一人想一想。”
“我会想想各种问题是否已经讨论过。我会看着队员们做赛前准备。然后我就会感到很安心。”
Vocabulary:
penultimate: next to the last 倒数第二的
skipper: the captain of a sports team （运动队的）队长
introspective: examining one's own thoughts, feelings, etc. 内省的
