Like many Germans, I remember the summer of 2006 with fondness. We hosted the football World Cup, and for a few glorious weeks the country was transformed. The sun literally didn’t stop shining. Every cafe, bar and park seemed to have the football on TV. The country was in an exceedingly good mood.
When it became public that German police would not be allowed to display German flags, opponents pointed out that rainbow colours were still allowed
The ‘summer fairytale’ of nearly two decades ago holds such a cherished place in collective memory that it would be difficult to rival even at the best of times. But Euro 2024 isn’t coming at the best of times for its German hosts. There is an atmosphere charged with political tension, fear and pessimism.
The German team’s dream start against Scotland on Friday, which ended with a 5-1 thrashing and a devastated Tartan Army, gave some indication as to how transformative football can be to the national mood.
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