the (observable) impact of the euros on germany
Let me just preface this by saying this will be purely my own observations of how the tournament has affected Germany in the first few days of its happening. So don’t expect any tourism numbers, economy impacts, etc. (although I am certain the tourism market has been BOOMIN in Germany due to the tournament). So let’s jump into it, shall we?
The Euro championship is one of my favorite football tournaments (yes, I’ll be saying football instead of soccer throughout this post). It brings the entire continent together and is also one of the most evenly matched competitions, especially this year. There are no clear favorites to win the whole thing, which is adding to the magic. Having visited Germany in years past when the competition was going on, my favorite thing to do was sit at an Irish pub with my dad and his German friends and just watch whatever games were on. However, this is the first time I’ve been living here full time while Germany itself is hosting. And even though it felt like there wasn’t as much buzz going into the tournament, now that it’s here? Every city in Germany has felt ELECTRIC. Now, to be fair, I’ve only been in two major cities since the competition began. But the social media clips showing each group of fans taking over each city in Germany has been beyond entertaining to watch. It’s moments like these that really exemplify just how much football, or sports in general, can unify diverse people. And I LOOOOVE it.
While I have learned to love the drama and skill within the beautiful game, it’s taken me some time to adjust my basketball-centric brain to the speed and lack of scoring (compared to basketball). But the thing I’ve always appreciated about football has been the fans. The fan culture in football is so unique, yet so powerful, I have yet to come across another sport with this loyal of a following. It is indeed the world’s game, and this tournament just continues to show this off. Diehard fans from across the continent have rolled in deep to Germany in order to cheer on their team and have a shared sense of camaraderie in the stadium. And yes, while there are some nasty rivalries that exist, the shared community of love for the game has dominated this tournament so far.
Huge crowds of Europeans have gathered in all the host cities, representing their country’s flags and colors with pride. Fan buses with country names written across the sides of the vehicles give tours of each city to fans. Football-enthusiasts line the streets leading fan chants and choreo rehearsals. It’s just a fun time to be in Germany. The whole country has a heightened sense of enthusiasm and energy; it’s refreshing to see a stereotypically grey country lit up with colors of every team’s flags. It’s just, well, magic.
Now I haven’t had the opportunity to watch a game in a stadium yet, but I’m hoping to get the chance to see one soon. I have had incredible experiences watching top-level football matches in stadiums the past few years, but usually for working assignments. But I can only imagine the amount of contagious energy that the crowd provides in these highly emotional matches. It’s been fun even just watching the matches at home or from bars because the shared sense of community that these matches bring. And of course the watch parties in the fan zones across Germany have looked absolutely incredible. I am so grateful to be able to witness all of this pandemonium firsthand — there’s truly nothing like these large-scale competitions where everyone has the opportunity to get involved and really root for your home team.
Of course, this is all just from the first weekend of action. I expect the hype to build up over the next weeks and hit a high point once we reach the championship in a month. But for now, I am just embracing the entertainment of walking around Germany and witnessing fan culture at the largest scale taking over my home. The group stage, and especially these early moments, do hold a certain level of hope and optimism that really fuels the passion and excitement of fans. This is anyone’s tournament, and, while I’m biased in rooting for Germany, I’m excited for a month-long display of world-class footy.
