Germany, four years later

The World Cup 2006 gave Germany a boost - both in terms of the nation's self-understanding and in the way it was received by the rest of the world. Suddenly Germany was cool, funny, tolerant, a nice place to hang out and peacefully celebrate "König Fußball" (King Football). The mood during the tournament was exceptional: everywhere fans from all over the globe could be found watching the games in various open air locations and the sun shone night and day (it seems in retrospective). Friendships were formed (some only for the duration of 90 minutes, some lasting until today), tears were shed, victories and defeats duly celebrated or quickly forgotten. But the World Cup was exceptional in another way as well: the event had set something free in the German soul which due to the nation's history had long been buried. Suddenly the German flag became a staple element in everyday life: cars and balconies were adorned in black-red-gold; people would dress in the colours from head to toe; little pennants could be seen hanging almost everywhere. It had become acceptable to actually be proud of one's country: it was cool to be German. German self-esteem was at its best. But what about now? An empirical survey of Stuttgart's streets and squares shows: out of 50 cars only three have re-used the leftover flags from four years ago. Yes, there are some charming private guerilla-garages hosting semi-public-screenings of the games. Yes, almost every restaurant has put up a TV or a big screen in order to cater to football fans' needs. And yes, as I am writing this I am watching Nigeria playing against Greece. But is it in any way comparable to the blast that was the 2006 World Cup? Hardly. Now that the spotlight is on South Africa, what once was a major topic for Germany is now only a minor one in the context of current national and global affairs. The financial crisis, the oil disaster, serious dissonances in Germany's government - these are all topics for which the WC offers some comic relief. But the "Sommermärchen" (summer fairy tale) that once was is certainly over by now. Just as with any summer love, this might not be for the worst: sometimes the past is the better present.

June 17
Stuttgart, Germany