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“The referees and assistant referees fulfilled the high expectations placed on them and complied with the instructions to protect players and thus the game better.

“The preparation period of almost four years for the World Cup in Germany paid off,” said Villar Llona, the committee’s chairperson.

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I recall Der Spiegel’s “six phases of a project,” especially the last one, which I recall as being “praise and honor for the non-participants.”