European Master Championship

Last night was the semi-final game, Germany against Turkey, in the European Soccer Master Championship. We here in the Stift have different activities that we plan throughout the year, and as we were putting our schedule together at the beginning of the semester the Master Championship was taken into large consideration as to what activities would be when, being very careful not to schedule anything during the potential times that Germany might be playing per hopeful chance that they would win.

The games have turned out to be quite a cultural experience. Last Monday, before Germany had even made it into the quarter-finals, after their win the streets were filled with fans and cars honking for a good hour after the game. I thought that for sure I had misunderstood just how far along we were in the tournament and that Germany had actually won the final. This was just the beginning, however.

Throughout the past two weeks German flags have started appearing in every store window, on the cars, on the bikes, pretty much wherever a flag seems suitable to show their national support. Interestingly, this has been a great source of conversation where there are those who are still uncomfortable with such a display of the national flag following the war and there are those who are rejoicing in the fact that they as a nation are coming much more to a point where they can feel comfortable to do so.

From what I gather, Germany was not expected to make it this far, but there we were last night gathered in our meal hall to watch the semi-final game on the big screen. It turned out to be a pretty intense game as the score was almost always tied. 0-0, 1-1, 2-2, and then the power in Vienna went out, which happened to be where the game was being broadcast from. We were without broadcast coverage for about 15 minutes and when it happened you could hear the cry of anguish from the neighboring houses. I was reminded of the Heidi Game in which the Raider-Jets football game was cut off to show Heidi at its regularly scheduled time. With only a few minutes left to go in the game the losing team scored two goals- which America never got to witness to.

Gemany came back to score the winning goal in the last few minutes of the game (I was greatful we wouldn't have to go into overtime). They made it into the finals. The horn honking and celebrations went on for a good two hours last night. I can't imagine how things will be if Germany wins the Championship.

I'll let you know on Sunday.