There have been widespread suggestions that Germany and the USA could end their encounter at Recife in a draw intentionally that would be very beneficial for both these sides. This has led the Italian press to stress on the word “Biscotto“ .
Biscotto literally means cookies in Italian. In the world of football, the term biscotto is not as sweet as it seems in the outside world. In calcio, it indicates the conspiracy involving two sides that play in a way to bring a mutually favorable result.
The earliest incident of biscotto that is thought of heads back all the way to the 1982 World Cup in Spain. West Germany played Austria in the final game of Group 2 knowing fully well that a win for the Germans would send both the sides into the next round. Algeria had already won their last game against Chile before West Germany and Austria could face off in Gijon. This affair between the Germans and Austrians is widely known as “The Disgrace of Gijon“.
West Germany scored early through Hrubesch in the tenth minute and both the sides played without any agenda for the remainder of the game. Reports suggests that the German and the Austrian commentators covering the game gave suggestions to viewers to turn of their TV sets. West Germany won the game 1-0 enabling them to top the group while also making sure of Austria’s progress into the next round. Since then FIFA made it mandatory for the final encounters in group stages to be kicked off at the same time.
The other famous incident that involved a biscotto occurred at Euro 2004 in Portugal. Italy were placed in Group C along with Bulgaria, Sweden and Denmark. Denmark and Sweden had four points from their opening two games with both beating Bulgaria while drawing to Italy.
The Italians would eventually beat Bulgaria 2-1 but would bow out of the group stages due to a 2-2 draw involving Sweden and Denmark in Porto. Both the Scandinavian nations progressed into the quarterfinals with the Swedish topping the table while the Italians would crash out of the tournament; a biscotto leaving a particularly bad taste in Italian mouths.
The final encounter in Recife could be played out in a similar fashion. A draw for both Germany and the USA would send both of them through to the knockout stages while striking a dagger in the hearts of Portugal and Ghana. Not much motivation for the Germans and the Americans to accelerate for a victory. Players could be saved from suspensions and injuries as both the sides could concentrate on the larger picture by preparing for the next round of fixtures.
However, USA head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has denied any reports of both the sides arranging the result in a sense of mutual understanding before the game. Klinsmann also notable gave an example of beating Panama in their last World Cup qualifier game even though they did not have to. This ensured that Mexico would take part in the playoffs to participate in the World Cup.
Klinsmann faces an emotional encounter as he faces his nation and the side he coached at the 2006 World Cup. Germany boss Joachim Loew was his assistant eight years back and both of them will now face off in the last round of fixtures in Group G. Could Loew make a favor to his old master and good friend? Only time will tell the outcome of this match. Although, both the sides could push for the win but with lesser aspiration.
As things stand in Group G, Germany are on top of the table on goal difference with four points while the USA are in second place. Ghana are also ahead of Portugal on goal difference with one point as these two sides face off at Brasilia in a knockout match. Anything other than a draw between Germany and USA could bring about a scintillating ending within Group G.
