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Over, but not over
Atmosphere isn't the same, but Germany remains amiable host
Thu, July 6, 2006
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BERLIN -- Directly under the Brandenburg Gate, they stood, packed together like sardines watching a game most of them no longer cared who won.
Oh, there were contingents with France flags and Portugal getups, their faces painted, living the game on the big screen with body language with every touch.
But the Germans were no longer wearing their shirts and waving their flags.
Now they were there because there was still a there there - even if Germany had been stopped short of the World Cup final by Italy.
300,000 FANS
In all there were an estimated 300,000 fans, the first and largest cluster right under the gate. For the length of another soccer field, before the next big screen, there were people walking around with beers and food from the concession stands, more there for the scene than the game itself.
Then another cluster, if not as large, in front of the next screen and another stretch more like you'd find on the midway at the Calgary Stampede. And so it went down maybe the most magical stretch of fandom not involving the celebration of a champion in all of fan history.
It was matched the smallest gatherings for games not involving Germany as the people suffered through a day of national mourning. But still ... 300,000 people!
The question when the sun came up yesterday was "Is the World Cup over in Germany?"
The answer yesterday was no.
Those who were there in Italy '90 say that World Cup was pretty much over when the Azzurri were knocked out at the same stage. But this is different.
As German coach Jurgen Klinsmann said the night before, this has been about more than the German soccer team - this World Cup has been about Germany showing "a new face to the world."
This was a special time. And place.
The Berlin Wall came down. There's almost no evidence left of it anywhere. Germany is out of the World Cup (unless you count the third place game against Portugal Saturday in Stuttgard). But Germany doesn't want to suddenly dial out of their great coming-out party before France and Italy decide the champion Sunday.
To be among a million people standing together Tuesday night to watch Germany-Italy on the big screens was an experience.
One million!
I mean, think about it.
That's more than the populations of Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg or Ottawa. In one place. At one time. Watching a soccer game. On big screen TVs. In the same location.
(Meanwhile, back in Canada, this World Cup is breaking all-time television ratings with two million watching the games.)
In a three-kilometre span from the Brandenburg Gate to the Siegessaule victory column landmark at the other end of the Tiergarten, the largest park in Berlin, which borders directly onto the Reichstag, were said to be between 900,000 to a million people.
Around the nation there were twice that many again - in the official Fan Zones in the other host cities.
Certainly the loss to Italy was a devastating blow.
"Der Tram Is Aus" headlined the Berliner Zeitung. The dream is over.
"Schwarz, Rot, Aus! Deutschland nur im kleinen Finale" headlined the Berliner Morgenpost. Black. Red. Out. Germany is only in the small final.
"Weint nicht, fut sed 1hr Helden," headlined the Berliner Kurier. Don't cry for us, you are the winners.
'WEEPING WITH YOU'
The response was not negative.
Like the words in Bild: "You battled like world champions. Germany's dream of winning the World Cup has been shattered. It would have been brilliant, but now we'll take third place on Saturday, and none of us is complaining. We say this to Klinsi and all his lads: Thanks for a fantastic World Cup.
"We're weeping with you!"
Or the words in Express: "The dream lies in tatters! But chin up, and no moaning. We've lost the semifinal by the narrowest of margins, but we won't be downhearted. We are Germany, and we're the moral world champions."
The World Cup still lives here. Yesterday it just had a heavy heart.
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