Abstract des Autors

As the German national team prepared for their Round of 16 match in Bloemfontein at the 2010 World Cup, observers noted a different ‘look’. In the words of one Times (London) reporter, ‘Joachim Löw’s side, with their youth and ethnic diversity, are far from “typical Germans”’. This paper examines the reaction of the English ‘quality’ daily press to a less ‘homogenous’ German team at South Africa ’10. It argues that the changing cultural make-up of the Nationalmannschaft prompted journalists to revisit a narrative that traditionally emphasized power, efficiency and confidence. Whilst these clichés were not written out of the media discourse, they were complemented by a new emphasis on illumination and artistry.