The picture that broke my heart

Germany and Poland are neighbouring countries. They share more than just a border, they also share some history - but I'm not going to get into that. I'll just say that a significant number of immigrants in Germany are Poles.

Two of those immigrants are Miroslav Klose and Lucas Podolski who happen to play in the National German Football Team. (Yeah...Klose...the guy who scored two goals against Costa Rica on his 28th birthday during the opening game of the 2006 World Cup).

Eventhough, Miroslav K. was born in Poland, he has lived in Germany since he's 8 years old. Football was a way to make friends in his new country. He admits to having retained a strong affection for the land of his birth and visits regularly.

Unlike Klose, Podolski knows the Polish national anthem by heart, enjoys Polish music, and his household is Polish-speaking. "I feel at home in both countries," he says.

As luck would have it, Germany and Poland ended up being in the same group (Group A) in the first phase of this year's World Cup. That meant that they would eventually play a soccer game: 'Germany vrs. Poland'. And to top it off, by the time they met on the field, Germany had already won a game and Poland had already lost one. This means that it was a decisive match for Poland. I didn't watch the game, but I read it was rather even, with Germany playing a little bit better. A normal soccer game lasts 90 minutes. The game might last a few minutes longer if the referee decides to recover lost time.

On June 14th, Germany played against Poland. The score was 0 - 0 and when the game was almost over, during minute 91...Germany scored a goal. That meant Poland was practically out of the World Cup...and they knew it!

A photographer caught the moment when Podolski goes over to his opponent's team goalkeeper and comforts him. But the goalkeeper is much more than his opponent...he's also a person who shares his birthland!...

Klose and Podolski are very professional players. They fought for Germany - their team. But their heart was pulled in two directions...and the picture of Podolski says it all.

Now that you know the background story...go back to the picture again...and tell me it doesn't move you!

I think the picture moved me because I could relate to it --- to some extent. Then I thought about Fabi, who has two different cultural backgrounds. I hope he doesn't have to be torn between the two of them....at least, not too often!