Germany's soccer federation pushed its clubs to invest in their development programs, conform to a specific curriculum and, whenever possible, to play that style instead of simply possessing the ball for possession's sake.

WSJ: Champions League: An Exciting New Idea From Germany

Germany's industry federation dampened Mr Kohl's spirits by presenting him on June 9th with a long catalogue of unfinished business, from privatisation and deregulation to tax reform and a tougher attack on social-security costs.

ECONOMIST: Jobs

Still, in Germany the connection between its national federation and its clubs has proved both strong and successful.

WSJ: Champions League: An Exciting New Idea From Germany

Germany's weighty trade-union federation has finally thrown its weight behind him.

ECONOMIST: The right in Germany

But China considers Germany an especially close friend, claims Friedolin Strack of the Federation of German Industries, so its disappointment is sharper.

ECONOMIST: German foreign policy: The company she keeps | The

The Seminar took place in the presence of Mr. Nimrod Barkan, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Israel to UNESCO, Mr. David Killion, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of the United States to UNESCO, Ms. Tatian Balykina, Representative of the Permanent Delegation of the Russian Federation to UNESCO, and Representatives from the Permanent Delegations of Germany and Belgium to UNESCO.

UNESCO: MEDIA SERVICES

Seifert said that was partly by design: After Germany's disastrous showing in the 2000 Euro, the country's national federation ordered its clubs to begin investing in youth academies.

WSJ: Germany's Bundesliga Finally Deserves Some Respect

Committee members hail from Algeria, Cambodia, Colombia, Estonia, Ethiopia, France, Germany, India, Iraq, Japan, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Qatar, Russian Federation, Senegal, Serbia, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.

UNESCO: EDUCATION