I can’t believe it’s been four years since the last world championship, but here we are again! I said this before and I will say this again. I’ve never been much of a soccer fan (back in Germany), I have never watched the Bundesliga games and I don’t pay attention to any standings (however, if I have to choose a team, I’d obviously cheer for 1. FC Köln).
When the World (and European) Championships come around though, that is a whole different story. It’s like a switch is turned on and I am surprised every single time how much I care about our national sport! This time is no different! I am a little sad that I won’t be in Germany at this time, because I know Germany is going a little crazy again for this competition!
Over the last decade, Germany has wriggled itself out from underneath a blanket of national shame and has learned to display some patriotism in the context of sports competitions. (And where else would we feel safer to show national pride than in regards to our national sport = soccer!).
The next month is going to be so much fun! It’s a bummer that most of the games will take place during the day (local time) and I’ll be at work for the majority of the games, but there is always the DVR (which J will have full responsibility for this month) and maybe I’ll be able to sneak away for one or the other game during my lunch breaks!
I’ll obviously cheer for Germany (first), but I will also root for the US team (unless they are playing Germany!), because a) they are my ‘other’ home team and b) they’re coached by Jürgen Klinsmann! Since the two teams are in the same group this time, the likelihood of seeing them both through the very end are slim. I keep wondering how Jürgen Klinsmann feels about his team playing against his home country! Oh, and in case you didn’t know: our own Michael Ballack will be the studio commentator on ESPN. It always gives me a little chuckle to see them on American TV.
Are you into the World Cup? Will you be watching the next few weeks?
GOGERMANY!
S.M
June 13, 2014 at 4:47 pmSoccer is the only game I watch and actually get excited. Gosh, I remember when Ballack was actually playing! I didn’t know he was commentating! The good old times of Kahn, Podolski, and the others from 2006! Kahn was a great captain. So many good teams and changes within teams this world cup. I don’t have a fixed team but I’d surely love to see USA, Germany, Netherlands, Brazil go up the ladder. Today’s Spain game was so fantastic! I’ve always wanted to see them run down and this game was a nice revenge from Netherlands the last world cup final! :D
Tobia | craftaliciousme
June 14, 2014 at 9:00 amI can relate to what you are saying. I would never ever watch the Bundesliga. But when the big tournaments come around I am front row (on my couch). Obviously I’m going to cheer for Germany, followed by USA (which I lost parts of my heart) and the Netherlands. So I better hurry, first game today starts in a minute… Yeahh for soccer
Heidi
June 16, 2014 at 12:00 pmI remember the World Cup 2006 and how it changed something in us Germans. It was fun to cheer on our team, be proud of their accomplishments, and at the same time welcome visitors from all over the world into our country. It was also the first year I actually developed a real interest in soccer. I do not follow the Bundesliga either, but I do follow the European Championship and the World Cup. I will definitely cheer for Germany this year, but I also hope that the US will get ahead – they are kind of the underdog so it would be nice to see them succeed. Our family is divided. Two of us will cheer for Germany (my youngest son and I) and two of us will cheer for the US (my oldest son and my husband). This will be fun! :)