The Revival of a National Spirit

View all photos from the World Cup 2006 in Germany: http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AcNmzVq5YsWLDCA


Germany, frequently described as a sober country, has not had much to cheer about in recent years; at least if you ask the average German: the country struggles with one of the highest unemployment rates in Western Europe, the government constantly seems to be cutting social programs (granted from very generous levels), unity between east and west remains a contentious issue even 15 years after the reunification, many Germans still like to complain about the higher prices allegedly brought about by the European monetary conversion and to top things off German which was to host the 2006 World Cup was losing almost all its Pre-World-Cup matches. In others words, judging from the public mood and media coverage, Germany was all gloom and doom.

But then something magical happened. Something has happened in this country since the beginning of the World Cup that has uplifted the national spirit. Naturally, a first answer stems from the performance of the German football team. A team, which stumbled over its own feet in every public viewing in recent months all of a sudden started to play well and improve with every game. For a country like German, with its long and proud football heritage, that is hosting the biggest sports tournament in the world and it all of a sudden starting to perform amazingly well and even sniffed at the chance to make it to the final, can go a long way to lift the national spirit.

I submit that there is another, a more profound reason that hopefully will persist long after the World Cup has finished. Germans for the first time in a long while are taking great joy and pride in representing their country to the world. People from all over the world have made a pilgrimage to Germany to be greeted by an extraordinary country and hosted by extraordinary people. One evening in Frankfurt comes to mind: Walking through the streets and visiting night clubs wearing a Mexican football jersey together with Mexican friends, never have I been greeted as warmly in my own city. All night long, Germans walked up to me, welcomed me in English and wished me a pleasant time. I truly felt like all these people were genuinely excited that I had come from Mexico to visit their country.

In other words, the World Cup might have been a catalyst but not the cause of the uplifting of the national spirit. I see a Germany that has been crying out for a chance to represent itself, a chance to feel proud of itself, to wear the national colours and to wave the national flag, which by the end of the World Cup is ubiquitously displayed across the country (from every car, every window and on every shirt).

Even the international press has taken notice. The Economist magazine writes in a recent edition about Germany: “With the nation's black, red and gold banner being brandished joyfully, but innocently, by countless football fans who are delighted to be hosting the World Cup, Germany gives the impression of a country which has finally laid to rest the ghosts of its past. In fact, real optimists might say that a new, angst-free patriotism is celebrating the achievements of a united, democratic state.” (The Economist, June 24th, 2006).

Germany has shown the world and more importantly itself that it is a beautiful country. I hope that long after the World Cup trophy has been won and the fans have returned to their homes, the German national spirit will continue to sing high notes and that the people of this country will have become a little less grumpy and a bit more joyful.

Goooooooooooooooaaaaaaaal

View all photos from the World Cup 2006 in Germany (pictures from the Germany vs. Argentina game start of page 14 of the photo album): http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AcNmzVq5YsWLDCA


It is 11am on a beautiful summer morning in Frankfurt, Germany. Not a cloud is to be seen in the sky and only a gentle breeze gives some relief from the sun’s mighty rays. My sister Julia and I are on our way to the Frankfurt Main Arena. Today is the big day, the day of the Germany vs. Argentina quarter final World Cup match. So far both teams have managed to advance through the tournament without being seriously challenged, winning all of their games. Today, everybody suspects, would be different. Argentina clearly entered the World Cup as a favourite, certainly over Germany and a clear contender for the title. There was no doubt about it, this was going to be an big game, some newspapers even described it as “the true World Cup final.”

20 minutes later, we are waiting at a Frankfurt train station for a few friends and then together make our way to the Main Arena, a public viewing area created by the city of Frankfurt for the World Cup. Measuring 144 square meters, the largest in Germany, Frankfurt has created a fantastic LCD screen in the middle of the Main river allowing up to 70,000 spectators to watch all World Cup games from either side of the river. The location is picturesque, the view spectacular and the atmosphere electrifying. But first we had to make it inside the premises.

This is easier said than done because this wildly popular location fills up quickly especially for Germany matches. Typically the compound opens 3 hours prior to kick-off but given the expected crowds today they were to open 5 hours early to give fans a chance to pre-party. Knowing the Germans sense of timeliness, we decide to come early and reach the gates by 11:45am (the gates open at 12:00 and kick-off is at 5pm). So much for being early, at least 20000 to 30000 fans are already lined up outside, cheering, singing and awaiting admission. Security standards are high so the crowd only advances slowly. 1 ½ hours later we are finally inside and breath a sigh of relief because we were among the last people to be admitted after the gates close. 3 ½ hours before kick of and the place is full, music is playing hosted by a local radio station, beer is pouring and Frankfurt is celebrating as if we had already won. In the morning I had hesitated whether it was worth making the journey to the Main Arena and if I would be bored during the 5 hour wait. But what I had imagined as a wait turned out to be a terrific party and so the time flies by.

Finally, game time has arrived and the suspense keeps building. Quickly it becomes evident that Argentina is in fact an opponent of a different calibre. The German offense struggles to develop their game. I hear the half time whistle and the score remains 0:0. I breeze a sigh of relief because the Argentinean team was the much more dominant one. For the first time all day the atmosphere is changing from euphoric to sober. The second half starts and 10 minutes later Argentina scores a goal, a goal that probably has been overdue. The atmosphere quiets further as if the fans were starting to accept defeat. But conversely, the German team all of a sudden picks up their pace and the Argentinean team appears tired. And then suddenly and as unexpected as lightening in the sky Germany scores a goal to tie the game 10 minutes before the end. The crowd explodes and all the repressed sadness about a likely defeat are swept away in cheer. Renewed hope awakes that German can actually win this game. But another 40 scoreless minutes of football would follow until the final whistle blows. The final score is 1:1 and penalty shooting will determine the winner: neither team has ever lost a penalty shoot-out in a World Cup match. Today would be different. How could the game terminate on a more suspenseful note? The emotions are on a high, every second filled with infinite suspense. Every penalty shot has to result in either success or failure. The decisive second has arrived, the German goal keeper Lehman leaps to the left and blocks the shot: Germany wins!!!

What follows is a celebration that Germany has not seen in a long time. On both sides of the river the crowd erupts in cheers, thousands of Germany flags wave and chants echo: “Berlin, Berlin we’re going to Berlin.”

As we finally leave the Main Arena 1 hour later, the center of Frankfurt has turned into one big party. People are everywhere singing and waving flags and the longest night of the summer has begun.