Bound by a Soccer Ball - Germany 2006 World Cup
A Mexican Heart in the Heart of Europe
Darmstadt, Germany. June 25, 2006 - The six points that Portugal’s team obtained in group "D" (which
placed it in first place of this group,) a game won and another tied by the Mexican team, plus the
possibility that Angola would qualify for the next phase, in the case that Mexico would lose to Portugal on
June 21st, hold back the euphoric atmosphere in the grandstands colored in green and red, located right
in front of the floating screens of the "Fan-Fest" in Frankfurt, Germany.
Nevertheless, we were not the only ones worried on that day. Once again, the underground means of
transportation were interrupted several hours due to a protest in the city’s downtown. Students from all
the Hessen State –myself included- continue to be furious about a law that is on the verge of being
approved, which will shy away many students from continuing with their education, or in the worst of
cases, from enrolling in the university. An amount of €500.00 euros per semester would be required from
each student for tuition, instead of the €190.00 euros currently required. This could possibly be
implemented in October of 2007. Germany is a "Sozialstaat" (welfare state,) and therefore education is
free at all levels.
This "Protest gegen Studiengebühren" (a protest against the university’s proposed tuition) forced some
Mexicans to walk a few blocks and arrive after the expected time at the "Fan-Fest." What would not be
our surprise when we saw that neither the students nor we were going to meet for a common cause; the
landscape was not colored in green, white and red colors (the colors of the Mexican flag,) but colored in
orange! The whole city was now the host for 70 thousand Netherlands’ fans, whose team was going to
play six hours later against Argentina’s squad in this city. Perhaps the Dutch had already taken
possession of the city since noon; they were seen everywhere, filling up cafes and restaurants, traveling
in boats in the Main River, and contributing to one of the record sales in the history of the German beer’s
industry. Our astonishment did not end there; we realized that there was no more room in the
grandstands for us, the Mexican fans: the Dutch wanted to enjoy the soccer game between Mexico and
Portugal as much as we did! Luckily, two of us found a spot next to my friends who had arrived long
before us.
The Dutch were all men, something a little strange, since a phenomenon that cannot go unnoticed in this
World Cup’s soccer tournament, is the interest and the enthusiasm shown by all and each one of the
women here in Germany (German or foreign.) Many men cannot hide their satisfaction to be able to
discuss with a woman if a play was "offside," if a player deserved to be red carded or not, or what team
has the best possibilities of winning the Cup, according to the skill of its players. The law imposed by the
men: "women don’t care about soccer" is becoming as valid as saying that the Earth is flat.
Another singular and important aspect that has been possible to observe in Germany, is when the
Germans are seen showing with much pride their yellow, red and black flag, and the name "Deutschland."
A pride that is taking the form of "national patriotism," and a pride that is questioned more and more by
the mass media, due to Germany’s past. Nevertheless, in my opinion, this phenomenon is easy to
explain. The people who question this sudden patriotism, is the same generational cohort of people from
the postwar period (people between the ages of 40 and 60,) a reason why they inevitably associate
Germany, their country, with one of the darkest chapters in European history.
But time cures everything. Today’s young German people did not experience those events. Thus, the
shame of being German is almost inexistent in present generations. I recall having a conversation about
the war with a German friend, who said to me: "I am sorry about what happened, but I cannot feel
shame; I did not do anything; I had not even been born!
Although many of the Dutch seated next to us have never been in Mexico, they said to have much
appreciation for Mexico, which was demonstrated by their support to us and our team with chanting and
shouts. The sensation of having our Mexican team lose 2-1 against Portugal was not very good.
Nevertheless, many of us stayed there to celebrate the Mexican’s squad making it to the next stage of
the tournament, as well as being able to participate in one the two games (Ecuador vs. Costa Rica was
the other) in the World Cup in which two Latin American countries would compete: Mexico-Argentina.
Even though this type of events must always have winners and losers, the most satisfactory
phenomenon was, without a doubt, the peaceful coexistence between so many countries and so many
different cultures, leaving rivalry out.
Original article written in Spanish. English translation by Eduardo Barraza.
placed it in first place of this group,) a game won and another tied by the Mexican team, plus the
possibility that Angola would qualify for the next phase, in the case that Mexico would lose to Portugal on
June 21st, hold back the euphoric atmosphere in the grandstands colored in green and red, located right
in front of the floating screens of the "Fan-Fest" in Frankfurt, Germany.
Nevertheless, we were not the only ones worried on that day. Once again, the underground means of
transportation were interrupted several hours due to a protest in the city’s downtown. Students from all
the Hessen State –myself included- continue to be furious about a law that is on the verge of being
approved, which will shy away many students from continuing with their education, or in the worst of
cases, from enrolling in the university. An amount of €500.00 euros per semester would be required from
each student for tuition, instead of the €190.00 euros currently required. This could possibly be
implemented in October of 2007. Germany is a "Sozialstaat" (welfare state,) and therefore education is
free at all levels.
This "Protest gegen Studiengebühren" (a protest against the university’s proposed tuition) forced some
Mexicans to walk a few blocks and arrive after the expected time at the "Fan-Fest." What would not be
our surprise when we saw that neither the students nor we were going to meet for a common cause; the
landscape was not colored in green, white and red colors (the colors of the Mexican flag,) but colored in
orange! The whole city was now the host for 70 thousand Netherlands’ fans, whose team was going to
play six hours later against Argentina’s squad in this city. Perhaps the Dutch had already taken
possession of the city since noon; they were seen everywhere, filling up cafes and restaurants, traveling
in boats in the Main River, and contributing to one of the record sales in the history of the German beer’s
industry. Our astonishment did not end there; we realized that there was no more room in the
grandstands for us, the Mexican fans: the Dutch wanted to enjoy the soccer game between Mexico and
Portugal as much as we did! Luckily, two of us found a spot next to my friends who had arrived long
before us.
The Dutch were all men, something a little strange, since a phenomenon that cannot go unnoticed in this
World Cup’s soccer tournament, is the interest and the enthusiasm shown by all and each one of the
women here in Germany (German or foreign.) Many men cannot hide their satisfaction to be able to
discuss with a woman if a play was "offside," if a player deserved to be red carded or not, or what team
has the best possibilities of winning the Cup, according to the skill of its players. The law imposed by the
men: "women don’t care about soccer" is becoming as valid as saying that the Earth is flat.
Another singular and important aspect that has been possible to observe in Germany, is when the
Germans are seen showing with much pride their yellow, red and black flag, and the name "Deutschland."
A pride that is taking the form of "national patriotism," and a pride that is questioned more and more by
the mass media, due to Germany’s past. Nevertheless, in my opinion, this phenomenon is easy to
explain. The people who question this sudden patriotism, is the same generational cohort of people from
the postwar period (people between the ages of 40 and 60,) a reason why they inevitably associate
Germany, their country, with one of the darkest chapters in European history.
But time cures everything. Today’s young German people did not experience those events. Thus, the
shame of being German is almost inexistent in present generations. I recall having a conversation about
the war with a German friend, who said to me: "I am sorry about what happened, but I cannot feel
shame; I did not do anything; I had not even been born!
Although many of the Dutch seated next to us have never been in Mexico, they said to have much
appreciation for Mexico, which was demonstrated by their support to us and our team with chanting and
shouts. The sensation of having our Mexican team lose 2-1 against Portugal was not very good.
Nevertheless, many of us stayed there to celebrate the Mexican’s squad making it to the next stage of
the tournament, as well as being able to participate in one the two games (Ecuador vs. Costa Rica was
the other) in the World Cup in which two Latin American countries would compete: Mexico-Argentina.
Even though this type of events must always have winners and losers, the most satisfactory
phenomenon was, without a doubt, the peaceful coexistence between so many countries and so many
different cultures, leaving rivalry out.
Original article written in Spanish. English translation by Eduardo Barraza.
Published by the Hispanic Institute of Social Issues in Phoenix, Arizona
| HISTORY IS ABOUT TO CHANGE Grassroots Journalism |
|
Irma Sofía Navarro Viloria is a political scientist graduated
from the University of Darmstadt, Germany where she has
resided for more than 10 years. She is a frequent
Barriozona contributor.
from the University of Darmstadt, Germany where she has
resided for more than 10 years. She is a frequent
Barriozona contributor.
