World Cup Game Day in Berlin
The German capital is the epicenter of the universe today. At least that is true if you are part of the more than one billion people who will watch Argentina play Germany in Berlin and since you are reading this blog I’m wagering you’re going to be one of those billion that tune in today. What is it like to be on location where the action is going to happen?
For lack of a more eloquent expression, it is pretty darn exciting.
During the past month that I have been in Berlin the city has been transformed. Sure, it pales in comparison to the transformation it has undergone since the Wall fell in 1989, but the past 30 days has seen the city come alive with support for its football team.
Before the World Cup began, many Germans I talked to had little faith that their team would do much of anything at the World Cup. They feared their side was too young, too weak in the back and that Jurgen Klinsmann was leading them down the wrong path.
There is little talk of any of that now after Germany has won its first four matches and has done so in impressive fashion. With each win, there are more flags hanging from the buildings in Berlin, more newspaper headlines devoted to the German team and more energy in the air. According to some polls, 53 per cent of Germans expect a fourth World Cup title on July 9 - compared with only 10 per cent the week before the competition began. A whopping 87 per cent are now confident the young side will beat hotly-tipped Argentina to advance to the semi-finals.
Today at the Berlin Fan Fest, there will be more than 750,000 people packed along a one-mile stretch watching their team play on big screen televisions. Throughout the city and the country there will be similar gatherings of various sizes. Germans who have never owned flags before will be wearing them like clothes. Hundred of thousands of faces will have paint in the national colors. The chants of “Deutschland, Deutschland” will be sung by both young and old alike.
As I type this, workers in the building across the street go about their daily routine, which from what I can tell consists largely of sitting at a desk and staring at a computer screen. Even on game day, normal life must goes on.
But on this day in Berlin, when two of the world’s greatest football powers meet, life will halt for 90 minutes. As it will in cities and villages around the world.
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Comments
By Claude | June 30th, 2006 at 9:57 am 
Deutschland, Deutschland noch ein Tor. Hop Hop Hop!!! I think Ballack will find the back of the net today at the Olympiastadion. Also time for Klose to put in a few and not to mention Podolski. Should be a great game and let’s hope the refs let the players play and let the players decide the final victor (which hopefully will be German 11). Deutschland, Deutschland ueber alles in der Welt. As the Scorpions sing “We will rock you like a hurricane”.
Posted from 
United States
By Euler | June 30th, 2006 at 2:25 pm I don’t like that ‘über alles’ part. Sometimes people think I have German background because of my name, but I don’t. I studied in a German school here at Rio but my family has nothing to do with Germany. Go figure.
I’m really glad that Germans are celebrating their flag again. I have more than one Brazilian flag but I would not be comfortable singing ‘Brazil above all’ even with our 5 WC titles. Funny thing… my wife is German! 
By Stuart | June 30th, 2006 at 3:25 pm I have to admit to being in a pretty deep funk after the US failed to seize the moment against Ghana. Then my wife had her foot surgery, and we were away from things for a bit, but I’m happy to say I’m once more in a football trance anticipating today’s match between Germany and Argentina. Given the style of play Klinsmann has brought to his side, it should be an open and flowing game with lots of end-to-end action. Either team can win, but I’ll go with the hosts…they just seem to be on the rise and building towards something. It’s sad to say that a very worthy team will be exiting today, but that’s what makes this tournament such an intense event.
By Timothy Horrigan | June 30th, 2006 at 9:23 pm It’s not a big deal to me one way or the other, since I am a Yank— but:
I think the Argentinians had good reason to be angry at the end. Lehmann was cheating on the last penalty kick. He’s not supposed to jump around like he was. He’s not supposed to move till the opposing field player starts moving.
Posted from United States
By Los Angelina | July 1st, 2006 at 12:26 am Lehmann jumped around before the kick… He can stand on his head if he wants to.
Posted from United States
By Los Angelina | July 1st, 2006 at 12:29 am Euler: They took that Ueber Alles part out in 1991.
Posted from United States
By Nick | July 1st, 2006 at 1:21 am How I wish I could be there in Berlin to experience the whole festive atmosphere!!!
Posted from United States
By Plan9fromOuterSpace | July 1st, 2006 at 1:35 am Timothy,
completely nonsense. He can jump and move as much as he like as long he stays on the line between the goalposts and looks in the face of the other player.
Don’t bash the refs - read the actual FIFA rules!
Posted from 
Germany
By krystle | July 10th, 2006 at 4:24 am YEAH! ITALY WON THE WORLD CUP SUCKERS! HAHA WHEOOO! PARTEH!
Posted from United States
By mubeen | July 10th, 2006 at 11:22 am yh it very lucky to italy but zidane it strong haha 5-3 penalty but rooney will bang c.ronaldo when he come back to england c.ronaldo want to leave man utd
Posted from 
United Kingdom
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