Kann man die Bedeutung dieser Weltmeisterschaft besser in Worte fassen als der Kommentator der englischen Times? Ich glaube kaum... Deutschland hat in diesen Wochen ein völlig anderes Bild von sich selbst gewonnen - das eines fröhlichen, beschwingten und dynamischen Landes. Die Probleme sind geblieben, ohne Frage - aber trotz aller Schwierigkeiten und Zukunftsängste können wir stolz auf uns selbst und auf diese fantastische Weltmeisterschaft sein.
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Third becomes first
And still the horns blare and the people party and sing and chant and drink and smile. Wow, this is wonderful. I don't know whether it's fatigue, or side-effects from the sausage I had last night, or whatever, but I almost felt dewy-eyed walking through the streets of Stuttgart tonight, moved by football's ability to generate collective happiness, to bring a nation out of itself. The streets are thronged with thousands of people enveloped in sheer, dumb joy, a beautiful, friendly, spontaneous revelry.
The heart of the city is closed to traffic because so many people wander the roads; beyond, sensible, mature Germany feels like a Latin country as people poke out of car sunroofs and windows waving flags, parping horns, shouting, grinning, celebrating, releasing. It's an ending, a victory, a thanksgiving for a triumphant tournament. An exuberant display of love for their team and for their country.
There was, maybe still is, a camper van parked at the roadside draped in an enormous German flag, radio blaring Three Lions and everyone in the vicinity singing along. There was, surely still is, a crowd of hundreds, so close you could hardly break through, by the central tram stop. Beers in hand, wearing white replica kit, faces painted yellow, red and black.
It was spectacular in the stadium. In Dortmund, in the semi-final, the mood was patriotism with a purpose: the masses willing their side to win, an urgent, febrile, aggressive passion. Last night, as Germany beat Portugal, it was about pleasure, not pressure; Germany grinned and was grateful. Post-match, it went on, and on: the fireworks, the lap of honour, the cheering, the flashbulbs. And these were the bronze-medallists.
Then, hours after the final whistle, they massed opposite the train station outside Germany's team hotel. In their thousands, mounting traffic light poles and verges, waving flags, singing, waiting for their heroes to return. At 1am, they did; more chanting and cheering. "Stuttgart is better than Berlin." You almost believed them because this is one hell of an occasion.
The World Cup final will have to go some to top this. Anyone who believes that the third-place match is a waste of time is, frankly, an idiot. Because it's done this, enabled this: a no-stress excuse to party, to say thank-you, to bring a fabulous closure to a magical month. It may not matter to you as you watch, detached and passive at home on TV, but it matters right here, right now, and it's about so much more than a 90-minute friendly match.
As the banner said tonight: Third place, World Champions. And still the horns blare and the people party."
Quelle/Source:
http://timesonline.typepad.com/world_cup_football/2006/07/third_becomes_f.html#more