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German fans left stunned
Thousands of German fans were stunned after they gathered to cheer on their national football team, only to see it lose the World Cup final to Brazil.
- Indo-Asian News Service
- Updated: February 25, 2007 08:27 AM IST
Read Time: 2 min
Berlin:
Hundreds of thousands of German fans in this football-crazy country were stunned after they gathered to cheer on their national team, only to see it lose the World Cup final to Brazil.
As the crowd of 3,000 filed away from Berlin's Potsdamer Platz, many Germans remained in front of the large screen, holding their heads and crying after the final whistle blew on one of the best finals in recent memory.
Germany weren't the favourites, but they have an uncanny knack of saving their best till last and this was what their fans hoped as they sang their national anthem 'Deutschland Uber Alles'.
Again and again cheers of "Ollie, Ollie!" went up as their outstanding goalkeeper, Oliver Kahn, thwarted Brazilian scoring chances. Still, it was Kahn's mistake that led to Brazil's first goal.
A moan went through the crowd after Ronaldo's 67th minute goal, and when the Brazilian superstar scored again 12 minutes later, many began to leave.
Germany won its three titles in 1954, 1974 and 1990. As its young team surprisingly won one match after another, hopes rose that the country could finally regain the trophy.
Football, and especially the national team, has grown into a huge institution in the country; a result of the 1954 World Cup title, which restored pride in the Germans devastated by their own dark role in World War II.
But this time it was not to be and the German fans accepted they were beaten by the better side.
"We are disappointed but the Brazilians played better and we congratulate them for the victory. They had more luck this time but next time we will win the World Cup!" remarked one fan.
On Monday, the official homecoming reception for the German national team will take place in Frankfurt.
It will be a long journey home for the defeated team, but their fans will be giving them a warm reception. (SNTV)
Topics mentioned in this article
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