Yesterday evening the English media were invited to an official reception hosted by the mayor of Baden-Baden. Free booze and five-star canapés ensured a decent turnout, but the clincher was the chance to meet Bert Trautmann, the German keeper who broke his neck after 75 minutes of the 1956 FA Cup final, yet continued to hurl himself at leather and stud as Manchester City beat Birmingham City 3-1.
Trautmann's life story is remarkable: he joined the army aged 17, and spent three years on the Russian front and a further 18 months on the Western front. He was captured three times - wriggling free from the Russians and Americans, before being taken by the British in 1945.
He stayed in England after the war by volunteering to dig out unexploded German bombs - "I'm still not sure why," he joked last night. Then, after playing non-league football at St Helens for 18 months, he was offered a contract by many of England's biggest clubs, including Manchester United, Liverpool, Spurs, Arsenal and Burnley. Instead he chose Manchester City.
When it became known that City were signing Trautmann, 20,000 took to the streets in disgust, bearing banners such as "Off with the German". The club was also deluged with hate mail. Within months, however, the genial Trautmann was a folk hero. He ended up playing over 600 games at City in a career lasting over a decade and in 1956 he was a runaway choice as Player of the Year, the first foreigner to win the award.
"I didn't recognise any players or what I was doing for the last part of the FA Cup final that year," he reminisced yesterday. "Everything was fuzzy. I was in tremendous pain. It was only when I saw the TV highlights that I realised that I had made three or four saves."
There were further questions about Trautmann's past; a respectful nod to nostalgia and former glories. He was still bitter - rightly - about not getting picked to play for Germany in the 1954 World Cup because he didn't play in the Bundesliga. "I'm a modest man, but I could have played for my country for 10 years at least," he insisted, the pain evident in every syllable.
Soon, however, the subject turned to this summer. "Who will you support if England meet Germany?" asked one tabloid hack. There was a smile, followed by the non-commital words of a diplomat. "I don't know. My mentality changes depending on which country I'm in. When I'm in England, and people criticise Germany, I defend the Germans," he said. "When I'm in Germany and people criticise England, I defend the English."
Thankfully, the fence-sitting didn't last long. After good-humouredly berating the English media for not asking enough questions, he then put the boot into his host country.
"Germany won't get to the final," he insisted. "Four years ago they had a lucky draw and a better team than they do now. Going on talent, ability and experience they have no chance, although they do have the crowd behind them.
"But I think England could win it. I really do. They have an excellent chance - all they need is some luck with Wayne Rooney getting fit, and then during the tournament itself."
He left us with some wise words. "The best thing that ever happened to Germany was losing the second world war," he told reporters. "As a people we have changed. We are tolerant and friendly."
It sounded like a plea to the spit-and-sawdust elements of the press pack: concentrate on present, not past. Sadly, you suspect he may as well have been whistling in the wind.
