All roads lead to Berlin, don't they?
- 7 Jul 06, 09:53 AM
BERLIN - It's all we've heard about these last four weeks, the city that's in every song and is the ultimate destination of all those who dreamed of being succesful at this World Cup.
Well we've finally arrived in Berlin, where the final will be played on Sunday, and it is curiously quiet.
Arriving at our on Thursday evening, after a long day trying to recover from drinking with some very hospitable Germans, the fans of the two sides still in the competition are conspicuous by their absence.
The place, just two train stops away from the , is almost deserted.
It's another temporary campsite on waste ground among seemingly abandoned industrial buildings, but the organisers have gone to the lengths of sanding over the area and putting in lots of tiki lamps to try and create a beach party atmosphere.
But at the moment there are only about eight camper vans here, mostly filled with Germans and Aussies, and one tent.
What I've found quite strange is the amount of Swiss fans I've seen at this tournament, never large in number and never anywhere near where their team was playing, but always a small band of them with Swiss flags painted on their cheek, and here is no exception.
But there are no Italians or French at all, and a brief foray into the city last night also failed to reveal large pockets of fans bound for the final.
The Italians are notoriously poor travellers and our new German friends told us yesterday, "the only Italians in Berlin will be ones who live there already."
We've been in town for the past two Italy matches, in Hamburg and Dortmund, and we've struggled to spot them.
There is apparently a large contingent of French supporters in Germany, but again they are not evident in Berlin, not yet anyway.
The guy on the gate here tells me it will be getting a lot busier, but he's not entirely sure how much.
"Now the Germans are out, I don't know if they will come," he said.
"They've booked, but who knows."
The city has been the centre of attention for the Germans, with the team staying here and playing two matches - against and - and the '' in front of the Brandenburg Gate has seen 3.5m visitors during the tournament.
The events have not stopped yet, with a free concert today looking forward to the next World Cup in South Africa in 2010 and the German team expected to get a warm reception here on Sunday lunchtime.
I'm looking forward to things picking up.
Don't forget to for the chance to win some fabulous Sport Relief prizes, including a Pele-signed table football and our very own Shevchenko-signed Fletch and Ricco t-shirts.
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yeah, we kinda have a hangover........
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I will be there to watch the match ;)
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When France played in Frankfurt last week the city was packed with French people. It seemed as if they had all come at once some time in the early morning. Most of them were driving as the border is only about 90mins away. There were even people from Brittany, Normandy or the very South of France. But with Berlin being another 650km further I don't know whether they would come for the final. Anybody from Munich on here? How packed was the city during the semi-final?
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Seeing the slightly modified Coca-Cola banner on the picture, Sportfreunde Stiller also already changed their song. It's now '54-'74-'90-2010 (you con download it at And some smart people already figured out the next calculation: 1990+1974-1954=2010
So we might have a slight hangover, but you'll see all Germans out tomorrow again and on Sunday too. Just because we didn't win the cup doesn't mean we'll stop partying 'til the end.
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All roads lead to Berlin ?
Not for Zidane !
Breaking News:
Fifa has suspended France superstar Zidane for Sunday鈥檚 World Cup final against Italy. Zidane was banned for wrestling Portugal鈥檚 Figo after the semi-final on Wednesday.
Photo copyright Italia Press Co M.A.F. - I.A. Intl.
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I quote from the article above: ..The Italians are notoriously poor travellers..
I travelled all around the world, always met italians and germans tourists. English tourists only in south of Portugal and Cyprus (where english breakfast - very nice - is served everywhere). The most of french tourists in east Canada.
What do you mean with poor traveller? Waiting for your answer...
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@Massimo (#6): Didn't understand that either. E.g. Italians are pouring into Munich for the Oktoberfest. So just because you didn't see them yet, doesn't mean they are not in Germany. But for sure the majority of Italian fans you'll meet are Italians living in Germany. After all they have a short travel. :-)
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I can assure you that come Sunday there will be plenty of Italians in Berlin as I know of many people that are booked up to travel from the British/Italian communities of Peterborough and Bedford; me being one of them. Bring it on!
FORZA ITALIA!!!
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Re: comment #8
It would be fun if FIFA takes that pic seriously and starts a probe... I think I'd laugh my socks off until next Tuesday :)
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To Massimo (@6)
I meant that Italians are poor travellers in terms of following their football teams.
They are not reknowned for taking armies of fans with them to European away games (or even away games in Italy) or big tournaments like many other countries, for example England, Sweden or Holland
I hope to see many more Italians fans here, they are just not in evidence yet
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I am sure Rooney will show there is no animosity between him and Ronaldo by buying him a France shirt with Zidane's name on it
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