Germany lost a football match but won a moral victory last night, when Borussia Dortmund were defeated 3-2 at home by Monaco, in the first leg of the quarter finals of the Champions League. To restage a major fixture just 24 hours after a terrorist attack was a remarkable achievement. To restage it when the Dortmund team bus had come under direct attack, landing one of its players in hospital, was nothing short of incredible. Dortmund fans gave bed and board to stranded Monaco supporters, Monaco fans sang Dortmund songs in the stadium, and both teams gave it their all (every Dortmund player was given the option not to play, but all played regardless). A thrilling game was the best response, and the result was incidental. This was European sport at its finest. Football kept calm and carried on.
Thankfully, the injured footballer, Spanish international Marc Bartra, should be fine – though it seems he’ll miss the rest of this season.
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