As you will know by now, the World Cup is finally over, with Spain the victors. However, feelings are still rather raw here that Germany didn’t even make it through to the final. Here, it would be an understatement to say that Germans take their football very seriously, so much so that the German coach, Joachim Löw, has been rewarded the Bundesverdienstkreuz (Federal Cross of Merit) and the team, the Silberne Lorbeerblatt (Silver Bay Laurel Leaf) – just for getting to a semi-final of a football competition.
I would understand the awards if Germany won the final and came home with the trophy. But to get medals for being beaten in a semi-final? And Löw’s contract negotiations are also apparently going extremely well at the moment.
Which just goes to show that there really are fringe benefits to beating your old enemy, England, 4-1.
The Germans have really come alive during this World Cup tournament and the last one. Flags are flown everywhere (including from almost every car), spectators sing the national anthem and there are huge street parties whenever Germany won a match. But there were also tears when Spain abruptly ended Germany’s hopes of winning the tournament. And Paul the Octopus, who has a knack for predicting football results, had to be given protection from angry football fans.
Thank God it’s all over and we can get back to normal! I sometimes can’t believe the effect that football has on otherwise calm people.
