A typical scene from the summer fairytale summer: German and Portuguese fans celebrate together in a convertible after the match for third place. © Schupfner/imago images
The 2006 World Cup in Germany went down in history as a summer fairytale. The Germans surprised the world: They played a completely different kind of football than before. They were warm and hospitable. And: They were suddenly very openly proud of themselves and their country. Black, red and gold characterized the fan miles, balconies and house facades. “The world as a guest of friends” was the official motto of the tournament – and the Germans filled it with life. The relaxed patriotism, often called “party patriotism”, is considered the great legacy of the 2006 World Cup. “I was really very happy, not only for the team’s results, but also for the country,” says French journalist Cécile Calla in this episode of What now. She was reporting from Germany for French media at the time. Even the then UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said: “The world is no longer afraid of excessive patriotism in Germany.”
But the mood in some places changed after the defeat in the semi-final against Italy. This is how political scientist Richard Gebhardt remembers the tournament. “That is the classic criticism of patriotism, and it is true,” he says, “that love for one’s own country can quickly turn into hatred of others if one is unsuccessful.” And despite all the “relaxed encounters” on the Berlin fan mile, social scientist and ex-footballer Özgür Özvatan also remembers the dark side of that time: “We still saw the structural racism.”
Immediately before the World Cup, migrant women demonstrated in Kassel following the murder of Halit Yozgat because of the series of murders of migrants. Today we know: It was the National Socialist Underground (NSU). The relatives of the victims were hardly heard so shortly before the summer fairytale. The Germany party started. Also before the World Cup there were warnings about so-called no-go areas for black people, which were also confirmed in attacks during the World Cup. After the World Cup, the NSU was exposed. Thilo Sarrazin published his bestseller Germany is abolishing itselfThe AfD was founded, entered the Bundestag and is now an integral part of the party landscape.
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Now, ahead of the next major tournament in Germany, the 2024 European Championship, which begins this Friday, the question arises: will there be a second summer fairytale? But for that to happen, it must be clarified how this time is remembered today in view of the shift to the right in Germany, in which a party that is in parts far-right is celebrating electoral successes.
In this special from What now? Host Fabian Scheler goes back to the summer of 2006 and explores the mood of that time. He tries to understand how those weeks were possible, what remains of them and how the national team was gripped by cultural battles over identity and belonging.
Moderation and production: Fabian Scheler
Editors: Jannis Carmesin and Christian Spiller
Sound design: Joscha Grunewald
You can find all episodes of our podcast here. Questions, criticism, suggestions? You can reach us at [email protected].
The 2006 World Cup in Germany went down in history as a summer fairytale. The Germans surprised the world: They played a completely different kind of football than before. They were warm and hospitable. And: They were suddenly very openly proud of themselves and their country. Black, red and gold characterized the fan miles, balconies and house facades. “The world as a guest of friends” was the official motto of the tournament – and the Germans filled it with life. The relaxed patriotism, often called “party patriotism”, is considered the great legacy of the 2006 World Cup. “I was really very happy, not only for the team’s results, but also for the country,” says French journalist Cécile Calla in this episode of What now. She was reporting from Germany for French media at the time. Even the then UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said: “The world is no longer afraid of excessive patriotism in Germany.”
