大賽在即 德國球星曬"怪癖"
Germany's top stars have revealed the rituals which they hope will help the national side claim their fourth World Cup title in South Africanext 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."
德國國家足球隊的球星們日前紛紛曬出他們在比賽前的一些“怪癖”，並希望這些“怪癖”能幫助他們捧得第四個世界盃冠軍獎盃。本屆世界盃賽將於本月在南非舉行。
德國隊於上週六在布達佩斯與匈牙利隊進行了世界盃前的倒數第二場熱身賽。本月13日，他們將在南非的德班對陣澳大利亞隊，打響德國在本屆世界盃上的首場比賽，此後將對陣同分在D組的塞爾維亞和加納隊。
德國曾在1954年、1974年和1990年贏得世界盃冠軍，併力求奪得第四個世界盃冠軍，如果目標實現，他們傳統白色球衣上所印的德國足聯徽章的上方將出現第四顆星。
日前，德國隊的主力隊員們向德國球迷網站透露了他們在賽前的一些“怪癖”。
代替腳踝受傷的邁克爾•巴拉克擔任國家隊隊長的菲利普•拉姆說：“我的老規矩是，在賽前必須要讓全隊站成一個圈，這讓我受到鼓舞。”
“沙爾克04”足球俱樂部的守門員曼努埃爾•諾伊爾說，他在比賽開始前必須摸摸球門柱。
他說：“在比賽哨聲吹響之前，我必須摸一下兩邊的門柱和球門橫樑。”
“這對於我來說確實有點作用。”
中後衛球員佩爾•默特薩克說他在比賽前一般好幾天不刮鬍子。
這位雲達•不萊梅俱樂部的後衛說：“誰刮鬍子誰就輸。”
德國隊副隊長、拜仁慕尼黑俱樂部明星中場球員巴斯蒂安•施魏因斯泰格喜歡最後一個到達球場。
他說：“在隨國家隊比賽時，我總是最後一個下巴士，最後一個上場。”
“我一定要穿白色的球鞋。每當我低下頭看見腳上的白色球鞋時，我感覺就會很好。”
國家隊教練尤阿希姆•勒夫則喜歡在比賽前內省一番。
他說：“我喜歡自己一人想一想。”
“我會想想各種問題是否已經討論過。我會看着隊員們做賽前準備。然後我就會感到很安心。”
Vocabulary:
penultimate: next to the last 倒數第二的
skipper: the captain of a sports team （運動隊的）隊長
introspective:examining one's own thoughts, feelings, etc. 內省的
