The third set, more enigmatic, dipped free-associatively into the wellspring of Romantic German poetry, Wagner's inspiration.
Dominating on a cerulean afternoon before 24,549 spectators, Team Britain won, 1-0, on a dipping free kick by defender Stephanie Houghton in the 64th minute.
The crowd, some sporting 1980's garb, others looking like modern-day Nicks and Noras, dip free radishes into salt cellars at the front bar.
Both teams had plenty of opportunities, whether it came when Mexico hit the bar twice in the opening minutes of the game or when Altidore saw his dipping free kick tipped over the bar by Alfredo Talavera in the 77th minute.
This should mean more goals, especially from swerving, dipping free kicks, which is partly the intention.
His swerving, dipping free-kick was an isolated flash of brilliant, attacking invention.
After Fox's goal, Johann Gudmundsson hit the crossbar with a wonderful, dipping free-kick from 25 yards.
The most extraordinary of them came late in the second half, when the French goalkeeper reacted to a swirling, dipping free-kick from 30-yard range by spooning the ball up into the air and watching as Figo headed the rebound narrowly over the bar.
Shinji Kagawa, who also impressed and had a hand in the first goal, was brought down by Reinartz on the left wing, and Rooney's perfectly dipping free-kick was headed in by Spahic, under pressure from Smalling.
He hit the post again - the fourth time in four games he had struck the woodwork - after the break with a trademark dipping free-kick from 30 yards as Paulo Bento's side mounted a siege on Cech's goal.
That Ward-Prowse's dipping free-kick - which clipped the outside of a post - was the closest the hosts came to scoring after the break is a testimony to the stranglehold the visitors had on the home attack.
