Did you know that there is a World Cup on at the moment for football? It may not have made the news where you are, but in some places, this is a big deal. My grandmother is a huge football fan, and as such, I've not been able to avoid hearing about the tournament. World Cups mean that the world comes together and everyone loves everyone else, because apparently football is a family.
There are two European teams involved. Actually there are thirteen European teams if you include England, although many people wouldn't because they have their own unique language and currency in England. They're a very funny little people. Anyway, there are two European teams who have a good chance of winning the tournament, and they don't really like each other. They are the Netherlands and the Germany. They have a big footballing rivalry based on the fact that in the 1940s, the German boys stole the Dutch boys ball. Then they stole their houses. Then their women. And finally their country. In footballing circles this is seen as a huge no-no.
When the German boys finally gave the ball back to the Dutch boys, a whole five years later, in order to go home for their tea, with the scoreline at 143,287 - 0, the Germans still had one cheeky last act. They were short of lorries and tanks, and so they stole the Dutch boy's bikes. The Dutch boys were furious, and said that if they ever played the Germans at football again, they would create banners and sing about wanting their bikes back. And to this day they have stuck to that promise and still do at all games between the two sides.
So if Germany end up playing the Netherlands later on in the competition, keep an eye out for some rascalish bike-related banners and chants.
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