Today being the 30th birthday of German FIFA World Cup winner Bastian Schweinsteiger, put me in the mood for a small celebration of all things German!

So, football is going well for the Germans. But it would seem that they are eyeing success else where:

Number 1. If Bastian and the boys can get behind this peppy number, it looks like 2015 Eurovision victory is a definite possibility!

(The lovely lady singing to the team is Helene Fischer – German queen of Schlager  – a particular sub-genre of pop music that tends to get the toes tapping of Eurovision fans – and  also World Champion footballers!)

If I haven’t lost you already in all that joyous Schlager, I am coming to the rugby bit!

Number 2. Germans hearts are warming to rugby:

photo via @rugbyworldcup

Despite Germany being football nuts, there is a rugby heartland in Heidelberg. As I discovered for a feature I wrote for IRB.com/rugbyworldcup.com due to the the soccer culture, the Germans have a tradition of producing nippy backs.

Check out the article via the below link:

Old values point the way for buoyant Germany

If the Germans can apply the same efficiency with which they run their economy, build cars, play football and produce Euro-pop Schlager, they have a bright rugby future ahead!

PS

From a sports marketing point of view, wouldn’t it be great if  German sports giant Adidas could get their two current World Champions together – Germany and the All Blacks? The teams could recreate something in the vein of this classic collaboration: