Reuters Soccer Blog
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Robben teaches Germans to love long johns
Germans used to laugh at soccer players who wore long johns in the winter, belittling anyone who opted not to play in shorts as a light-weight. Germans even have a derogatory name for the thermal underwear: Liebestoeter (passion killers). 
That was before Arjen Robben scored two goals and led Bayern Munich to three straight wins in his woolly grey long johns. They may make him look like a 19th century grampa getting ready to get into a cold bed. But they’re “hot pants” as far as Bayern are concerned.
And no one’s laughing anymore. In fact all of Germany is talking about the unstoppable Dutchman who has made a fashion statement in the baggy underwear.
“I know they don’t look very good — even my wife tells me that they don’t look very good,” Robben was quoted telling Bild newspaper the other day after scoring a goal and setting up another in Bayern’s 3-0 win over Mainz last Saturday. “But they feel really good when I’ve got them on. They keep my muscles warm. The long johns belong to the club. At home I never wear anything like that.”
