Merkel chief cheerleader as Germany celebrates
Reuters - Saturday 03 July 2010, 17:31
BERLIN - Joyous celebrations erupted in
Berlin and across the country on Saturday after Germany crushed
Argentina 4-0 to advance to the World Cup semi-finals - and
provided the team with more future inspiration.
More than 350,000 fans watching at a public viewing venue in
Berlin let out a roar of jubilation for all four Germany goals
and celebrated in style after the whistle with their team
winning a spot in the semi-finals again after 2002 and 2006.
Germany coach Joachim Low paid tribute to the mass crowds
back home and revealed after the match that he used a film clip
of fans cheering during the quarter-final 4-1 win over England
as a motivational tool just before the Argentine match.
"Right before the match we put together a film of some of
the scenes of the fans celebrating back in Germany," Low said.
"We showed it to the team right before we departed for the
Argentine match.
"It was a film from the various fan miles and showing the
fans in Germany celebrating during the England match. I think
that's the best motivation possible for our team."
PUBLIC DISPLAYS
Discarding their normal reservations over public displays of
patriotism, German fans wrapped themselves in their black, red
and gold flags and jumped for joy.
Complete strangers embraced each other in celebrations on
Berlin's packed fan mile.
In Berlin, the enormous crowd watched the game under clear
blue skies and temperatures that hit 38 degrees Celsius. Tens of
thousands more watched on big television screens at squares, at
public pools and lakeshores across the country.
"I got goose bumps watching this," said one fan at the
public viewing venue set up between the Brandenburg Gate and the
Victory Column in the heart of Berlin's government quarter.
"Everyone here loves each other, everyone loves Germany.
It's a great feeling. We're going to win the World Cup again."
There were spontaneous car rallies in towns and cities
across the country - with cheering fans ignoring recent
warnings from the authorities that beeping car horns and hanging
out of moving vehicles is against the law.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel also got swept up by the
scope of the victory over Argentina. She had predicted a 2-1 win
and let go of her usual reserved style after the match.
"It's overwhelming, it's a dream, just a dream," Merkel said
in an interview with German TV.
"I'm a cautious person. I didn't start to feel good about it
until we went ahead 4-0. I think Germany has accomplished
something quite wonderful."
Germany striker Thomas Muller also paid tribute to the fans
back home. "I think Germany's quaking right now and so are we.
It's insane," he said.
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