European Press Review: Germans Should Be Proud

Germany's most-popular tabloid Bild -- which in the run-up to the World Cup was at times highly critical of the German team and its coach Jürgen Klinsmann -- described the soccer championship on Monday as a "gift given to us by (president of the organizing committee and German soccer legend) Franz Beckenbauer."

"Jürgen Klinsmann and his boys played fantastic matches," Bild wrote. "And we fans transformed the whole country into a single black-red-golden party. 31 World Cup days changed Germans and Germany more than politics -- with all its laws and regulations -- could do in years. And the whole world all of a sudden has a totally positive picture of us. The signals we were sending were not to be misunderstood: Germany is a cheerful country. Germany is throughout a peaceful country. Germany is modern, imaginative and creative. As good hosts, we handed over the World Cup title to somebody else, turning the match for third place into a real final."

Berlin daily Berliner Morgenpost also focused on the important role which Germany's capital played in motivating the fans: "For four weeks, Berlin was preoccupied with the World Cup. With the final match in the Olympia Stadium and the finals of people's hearts on the fan mile, the 31 days -- which gave this city a magic look -- came to an end. To one million tourists and 35 billion (cumulative) TV viewers, Berlin presented itself as cheerful, peaceful, cosmopolitan, cordial and tolerant. The city is finally participating in the concert of world metropolises with a special flair."

"At this point," the paper concluded, "it is time to say thanks. Above all, to Jürgen Klinsmann. With his optimism, he directly addressed the Germans. This globetrotter was the first to inspire young people to identify with a country, in which for a long time they were afraid of giving false impressions if they stood for the German flag."

The real winners

Abendzeitung from Munich wrote about the lessons that needed to be learned from the World Cup. "Perhaps we should all become more and become playful, but at the same time Klinsmann-serious. Perhaps we should -- just as J. K. did -- give more chance to young people, even if they will botch some things up at first. Perhaps we should be -- a la Klinsi -- getting rid of some supposedly unalterable rules even though the risk of failure would be great. The World Cup would then stay with us for ever. On (Munich's) Leopold Str., after Germany beat Portugal on Saturday, one could see a poster which read: 'World Cup, I want your child!' "

Several British newspapers Monday paid glowing tribute to Germany as host of the World Cup, praising the exemplary organization and hospitality as well as the national team.

"Never mind the final, the Germans are the real World Cup winners," wrote The Times after Sunday's final in which Italy beat France on penalties. "The national team might not have been in the final last night, but the tournament has still been a triumph for the hosts," the daily continued, adding: "The economy has enjoyed a 0.3 increase in GDP, 2 million visitors have revised their idea of the country and Germans are again proud."

Soft patriotism?

"Despite their team's elimination on July 4, the month that has just ended will remain an unforgettable period for the Germans," wrote the French newspaper Le Monde. "They have never been seen wearing their colors in such a demonstrative manner, and that includes when the country was reunified in 1990. We have never heard them chant the German national anthem with so much spirit," Le Monde said.

Italian La Reppublica was a little more reserved about praising Germans: "Bye-bye, World Cup! Everything seems unforgettable now, but what will we really preserve in our memory from the 2006 World Cup? Probably the German masses, a disciplined sea of fans. They always look as if they had a natural remote control. The fear-factor has to do with the question in whose hands will the remote control end up. This time around, the button was still labeled as 'soft patriotism.' It expressed itself in vast numbers of flags, t-shirts and tattoos. The media spread in unison the message of the newly discovered pride, which has no claim to power. But we've learned from science to be cautious, because things that start as soft can very quickly turn hard."