BORDEAUX, France -- Entire libraries are devoted to the role of the mind in sports. From mental strength to strategy, from creative intelligence to emotional intelligence. Every last bit of it came into play on the night Germany were able to slay their demon.
They had hidden behind the easiest of cliches: records are meant to be broken. But what about curses? You have to be Richard Dawkins to not believe that there was something mystical, something beyond your control.
Before Saturday night in Bordeaux, Germany had taken on Italy eight times in competitive games. And eight times they had failed to win.