|
|
|
| June 21, 2006 | Wednesday | Jumadi-ul-Awwal 24, 1427 |
700,000 savour victory
BERLIN, June 20: An estimated 700,000 fans partied at the Brandenburg Gate on Tuesday, turning the Berlin landmark into an ocean of black, red and gold flags while cheering Germany's 3-0 Group A victory over Ecuador.
“This (size of crowd) is a new record,” said a police spokeswoman.
Thousands of fans with dyed hair and faces painted in the national colours jumped up and down, clapping and singing “This is what winners look like”.
Others were focused on what might be to come, shouting “We want England! We want England!”, as the sound of beating drums and whistles filled the hot, muggy air.
Daily life ground to a halt as the host country finished top of their group.
Parliament stopped its session in time for kickoff.
Construction sites and businesses closed early and workers gathered at thousands of outdoor screens across the country, draped in Germany flags to cheer, sing and drink for their soccer heroes under the scorching summer sun.
Shortly after the win over Ecuador, hundreds of Germans formed columns of cars, honking, waving and partying on the major traffic routes like Berlin's Kurfuerstendamm.
A handful of Ecuador supporters who had come to the tourist attraction to watch their team said they had expected the outcome.
“Our team played so crap, this was boring in the end,” one Ecuador fan said. “At least I hope we don't have to face England now.”—Reuters
|
|
|
|
