I've just arrived back from Germany and it truly is a great tournament.

The locals have been very welcoming and the organisation, Autobahn stadium signs apart, has been excellent.

As one of the estimated 80,000 fans who descended on both Cologne and Stuttgart I can say with some authority that it is uniting fans.

For the first time ever I saw English fans sporting German flags. There is still a hardcore that spouts xenophobic chants and World war II insults but thankfully that is on the wane.

Here's to two more weeks of football!
Clark | Homepage | 06.27.06 - 9:13 am | #

Sadly, we bid Ghana goodbye after their loss to Brazil today.
anonymous | 06.27.06 - 1:18 pm | #

...very bummed about the Ghana loss today. Had a seat in that bandwagon.
Gene | 06.27.06 - 4:27 pm | #

Gripe numero uno:

As long as World Cup soccer resolves its draws with a shootout tie-breaker, it is not The Beautiful Game.
Vigilante | Homepage | 07.01.06 - 10:41 am | #

Watched the semi-final between Germany and Italy. Although most of us watching together were rooting for Germany, I have to say I was glad Italy won.

I was annoyed at their rolling around in professed agony only to sprint off the field seconds later, but they just played with more ... passion than Germany [wow, nervous about the stereotype possibilities there]. I hated the ... brutality [ditto] evidenced by a couple German players right at the end, even though Italy played rougher throughout the game.

I haven't caught other games. What's everyone's impression of the interactions?
mjae | Homepage | 07.05.06 - 10:43 am | #

P.S. Is anyone else weirded out by an all-European final semi-final?
mjae | Homepage | 07.05.06 - 10:52 am | #

Oh dear.

Italy's win is on shaky ground with scandal news:
http://www.latimes.com/sports/so...-home- headlines

And Germany? Sniffing around...
mjae | Homepage | 07.05.06 - 4:23 pm | #