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The View from Germany a few Hours before World Cup Kickoff
Comments(15)
I just took a few minutes to walk around the streets of Berlin and there is a feeling of electricity in the air. People are going about their daily lives, but there seems to be an extra spring in everyone’s footsteps, including my own. Flags are hanging outside of apartment and car windows, and people are wearing Germany kits and colors. On television there is non-stop pregame coverage from Munich and around the country with a clock ticking down every last second until kickoff in the corner of the screen.
The talking heads are breaking down today’s games and debating feverously about the right strategies for each team. It sounds the same in any language.
Peter and Nick, our men on the scene in Munch, are among a crowd of football fans congregating outside the beautiful stadium. The crowd is largely wearing the colors of Germany but there are signs of Costa Rica fans who are singing and dancing in excellent spirit. People were told to show up a few hours before the game so they would have time to deal with security lines so the party has started early outside the stadium.
Nick writes: “There are massive lines to get in. The gate is about 1km away from the stadium and the security people are checking tickets for name identification, as well as performing body searches. It doesn’t appear they are checking ever person for ID but they might closer to the stadium entrance.”
In Gelsenkirchen, there are pictures of large numbers of fans from Poland on hand to support their team as it plays against Ecuador later tonight. With the host country playing on the same day, not as much attention is being paid to this game, but it also appears like there is a festive atmosphere where the fans are congregating.
Sean is on his way to the mini stadium in Berlin to watch the first game and to take some photos and videos of the crowd. The stadium has been erected to allow 10,000 to watch the games on a big screen television and is right near the fan mile where thousands more will also be taking in the action.
Make sure you check in with our photos and videos section after the games to see the sights and sounds from Munich and Berlin. We also encourage you to submit your own images there so we can see how you are celebrating the World Cup wherever you may be in the world.
Don’t forget that if you are near a computer during the games, I’ll be liveblogging the Germany-Costa Rica match and our man Trent will be delivering the blow-by-blow for Ecuador-Poland. Stop on by and leave your thoughts and comments while the game is being played.
It is going to be a great day of World Cup football!
There’s so much tension in my house six thousand miles away that the tennis rackets’ strings are popping. I’m going to provide a live soccer-as-a-second-language service to my American audience through the web site, if anyone is interested.
Posted from 
United States
GO~ PORTUGAL ~GO
PROUD TO BE PORTUGUESE AND I HOPE ALL THE BEST TO PORTUGAL AND THE PLAYERS… IM SO EXCITED TO SEE WORLD CUP IS HERE AND ALL THE PARTYS BEGIN!!
WE WENT SO FAR WITH EURO CUP ALMOST WINNING THAT I NO WE CAN DO IT YEAAAAA WORLD CUP BABY ALL TEH WAY! PORTUGAL #1
~CRISTIANO RONALDO~ IS KICKING ASSSSSSSS XOXOX
Posted from 
Canada
the tension is rising…
Posted from 
United Kingdom
Great coverage guys. Keep it up!
Posted from United States
People are crazy and stupid to spent time & money for football soccer.
Just become a litle bit mature.
Posted from United States
Oh thanks, I guess I can get back to work and other affairs now. I was under the impression I actually loved playing and watching football, but I guess I was wrong this whole time.
Posted from 
Brazil
Yeah, why care about one of the few events that can bring people from every nation on earth together to celebrate peacefully?
Isn’t there some NASCAR event on FOX you should be watching right now, Not Important?
Posted from United States
we are saporting iran team
Posted from 
Islamic Republic Of Iran
Ooh yes. And i suppose the millions of us over the globe are immature, crazy and stupid eh? Interesting comment. Do you even watch sport? Oh im sorry, its immature isn’t it?
Posted from 
Singapore
Hi guys,
I found this intresting site on the web http://www.hotoger.com
which is like following your game through our the world cup.
I guess no one knows who will win the worldcup. if we know then there would no matches .This is the game where the cycle of
hope ,predictions and surprises. I suggest the guys on this blog to give space for http://www.hotgoer.com
Posted from 
India
Iran 2
Mexico 0
Posted from United States
World cup was ment for the best and the best is yet to come it is posible that may be one day we all cheer for one team THE TEAM OF A PEACEFULL WORLD!
Posted from United States
Soccer is really the most boring and stupip game, just good enough for pepole with the brain drowned in beer. Our football player don’t even flinch if they crash into each other, soccer requires a Oscar winning performance to express pain, at least as long as the other player or crew gets a penalty.
Posted from United States
[...] 9th, 2006. It’s World Cup kickoff time. Something I decided to sit out with a little TV marathon. The opening ceremony was very campy and [...]
Posted from United States
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I’m buzzing right now. Can’t wait another couple of hours. I want the games to start!
Posted from
Germany