EPAGerman followers within the fan zone in the course of the 2024 European Championship
NOS Nieuws•gisteren, 19:42
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Charlotte Waaijers
Germany correspondent
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Charlotte Waaijers
Germany correspondent
Should you say the 2006 World Cup, you hardly appear to search out anybody in Germany who does not really feel one thing about it. Germany was the host nation, which Mannschaft completed third. However the German ‘summer time fairy story’, a play on Heinrich Heine’s poem Winter fairy storyis about way more than simply good soccer.
For a lot of Germans, it was the primary time that, regardless of their tough historical past, they dared to be overtly happy with their nation: anybody who waved flags or sang alongside to the nationwide anthem didn’t instantly really feel fallacious. Eighteen years later, the nation, divided by conflicts and political tensions, hopes for a brand new fairy story. However whether or not that can succeed, opinions are additionally divided on that.
No sense of neighborhood
The run-up alone is totally different than it was again then, says sociologist Michael Wetzels. He research the impact of soccer on feelings in society. “It took a 12 months of preparation. The marketing campaign began in 2005: the world is a visitor of pals. The Germans had been informed: be pleasant, be good to the individuals who come to us. And that has a really optimistic collective feeling. supplied, which was not there till then.”
There was no such huge marketing campaign this time. However society has modified too. “Germany has change into extra open. And on the identical time conflicts have arisen, cultural ones. As a result of as increasingly more teams take part in society, additionally they have extra calls for. And that raises questions on truthful distribution.”
Germany is now extra divided politically. In line with latest polls, events that wish to break free from the established order could type a small majority in some states. The rise of the unconventional right-wing AfD, which didn’t but exist in 2006, is resulting in discussions about what it means to be happy with Germany. After which shortly earlier than the European Championship there was a ballot that confirmed that one in 5 Germans thinks the workforce ought to be whiter.
‘There is not going to be a second fairy story’
Store proprietor Chico has the summer time fairy story etched in his reminiscence. “It was sensational, I’ll always remember it,” says the Romanian-born German. He likes soccer. His voice remains to be hoarse from the night time earlier than, he was at Romania’s match towards Slovakia final week.
Each World Cup and European Championship he hangs huge screens in entrance of the facade of his späti in Berlin, a neighborhood store the place you’ll be able to go till late at night time for comfortable drinks, beer, chewing gum and cigarettes. This 12 months too, the neighbourhood comes to look at the video games on folding chairs and beer benches they introduced with them.
Nevertheless it does not really feel as exuberant as in 2006 now, he says. “There’s a little bit of pressure. However that has to do with politics. And I do not know the place it comes from. From the AfD, or from others. However persons are displaying fewer German flags.” It is a disgrace, he thinks, the Germans ought to have extra braveness to be happy with their nation. The facade of his store – utterly black, rot, gold – is an exception within the neighborhood.
Sociologist Metzels doesn’t suppose there will probably be a second fairy story. “Soccer covers up the issues, however it often does not clear up them.”
‘Pleased once more’
The residents who watch the video games at Chico and cheer on the German workforce are extra hopeful. “Previously, when individuals requested me the place I used to be from, I at all times mentioned: I am from Guadeloupe, not Germany,” says a 22-year-old common customer. “That is the primary time in my life that I prefer to stroll round with a German flag. That I get up for my nation. That I speak about it with satisfaction.”
“Individuals merely wish to be glad once more,” says an older girl strolling previous. “And that’s additionally very noticeable this 12 months.” Having fun with soccer collectively and being extra playful with one another, that will be good for Germany, they suppose.
