At the end of June 2004 – Germany’s national soccer team had failed miserably in the preliminary round of the European Championships in Portugal two years before the home World Cup – Rudi Völler took over responsibility. The former star striker resigned as national coach. “I had the feeling that the World Cup in your own country could only be done by someone who is immaculate and has a certain credit – a credit similar to the one I had,” said the man from Hanau at the time, whom she “Aunt Käthe ” since his perm-like hair started to gray.
