Football fever

The upcoming European football championship is not only a sports competition, but most of all a cheerful time to celebrate one’s nationality. Especially in Germany, these four weeks create a happy and unique atmosphere while the whole country is wrapped in black, red and gold.

Football is by far the most popular type of sport in Germany and has a long tradition. In the 1870s, football found its way from the British Isles to the continent and fascinated large parts of the population very quickly. In 1900, the German Football Association was established together with the annual tournament of the German championship, the equivalent to the English Premier League and, a few years later, the first official national football team. Being an exclusive sport only played by the upper class and pupils of grammar schools in the beginning, football became a popular sport for all classes across the whole country by the 1920s. The enthusiasm kept on growing until today and the German Football Association currently counts more than 25,000 clubs and almost seven million members.

Berlin Fan Mile. © SpreePIX Berlin

Football as therapy

But football seems to be more than just a sport for the Germans nowadays. It is an accepted way to show some sort of patriotism and national pride. The World Cup of 1954 in Switzerland serves as an example for this phenomenon. Nobody expected to beat the red-hot favourites from Hungary in the final of the tournament. The surprising victory of the German team is called the ‘wonder of Bern’ even today and gave the population a new sense of life and self-esteem after the Nazi dictatorship and the war. The players were celebrated as national heroes and became legends with successors from different generations, like Franz Beckenbauer and Lothar Matthaeus, who fulfilled their glorious legacy in the following decades.

The successfully hosted World Cup in 1974 was highlighted by the second title of being the football world champion. And the victory in the 1990’s world tournament was another great celebration after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the upcoming reunification – simply the cherry on the cake of a good year. These and especially the World Cup of 2006, that was hosted again in their own country, were a boost for Germany’s solidarity and self-confidence. At that time, the German national team did not reach the final, but the atmosphere during the tournament and the nationwide evoked football fever were good consolation prizes and the event is still celebrated as the German summer fairy tale. Apart from that, it brought another phenomenon, the so-called ‘public viewing’.

Berlin Fan Mile. © SpreePIX Berlin

Public viewing

Since it is much more fun to rail against the referees or cheer for the own team together in a big crowd, cities and towns across the country created opportunities to watch the games on big screens in big public open spaces, mostly market or festival venues. An exemplary example is the fan mile in the middle of Berlin: usually a heavily travelled street between the Brandenburg Gate and the Berlin Victory Column, it is closed for traffic during these occasions. The fan mile is 1.8 kilometres long and 40 metres wide, which corresponds to the size of 14 football fields. Around half a million spectators join there regularly to watch the games on huge screens. Even the big stadiums of the top German Premier League clubs are open to experience the tournament in a real football atmosphere.

However, all the people who are not into big and loud crowds will find a spot in their favourite café, bar or beer garden to follow the sports event. It is not only watching that has become the nation’s favourite activity during the championships, but also the decorating of houses and even cars. In 2006, every German spent around 70 euros on memorabilia in the style of Germany’s national team. From jerseys and face paint, to whistles, scarfs and flags – you can get everything your heart desires. The whole country is wrapped in black, red and gold and the theme can be found anywhere. Butcheries and bakeries offer various creations of world champion breads, cakes and sausages. Passing a playground, chants of “Neuer, Mueller and Schweinsteiger – Goal!” will fill the air when the children replay the last games imitating their idols.

It is that time when Germany suddenly consists of 80 million professional trainers and referees who all know how to play and win the tournament. The national football team can be sure to have the whole country’s support when they fight for the European championship in France this year.

TEXT: MONIQUE AMEND