COPY LINK

EURO 2024

Can Germany’s hosting of Euro 2024 be judged a success so far?

As the group stage of Euro 2024 reaches its halfway stage the tournament has for the most part run smoothly but from transport issues to outbreaks of violence it hasn't been plain sailing.

Published: 26 June 2024 15:22 CEST

Police lead thousands of Spanish fans before the match against Italy in Gelsenkirchen. Hundreds of fans would later be left waiting for hours for trains and trams. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Christoph Reichwein

As Euro 2024 reaches the half way mark with the knock-out rounds to come the tournament has run fairly smoothly, but has not been without troubling incidents from flare ups of violence and severe transport issues for fans.

The Local considers the issues the tournament has had and what Germany has done to solve the problems.

Flare ups of violence and hooliganism

Overall the tournament has been largely trouble free especially when compared to previous European football tournaments. We are a long way from the dark days of Euro 2000 and even Euro 2016, which were both hit by major outbreaks of trouble.

But there have been flare ups, most recently on Tuesday in Munich ahead of the Denmark vs Serbia match.

As thousands of Serbia fans gathered at Marienplatz there were clashes with police with bottles and chairs thrown in the direction of officers. Seven fans were arrested and several officers were injured. Images of the clashes were posted on social media.

On Munich’s Marienplatz, Serbian fans brutally clash with the German police ahead of the Serbia-Denmark game tonight. pic.twitter.com/2suQZLhCQ0

— Jakub Bielamowicz (@KubaBielamowicz) June 25, 2024

There have been other clashes too, notably a huge brawl involving Serbia and England fans before their opening clash in Gelsenkirchen. There were also clashes between Turkey and Georgia fans inside the stadium during their Group F match.

Wow it’s all kicking off between Turkey and Georgia fans… 😳😨pic.twitter.com/n7dgfWkJGY

— The Away Fans (@theawayfans) June 18, 2024

But there were fears of a lot worse in the run up to the tournament, with German police openly admitting they had no idea how England fans would behave and how many Serbian hooligans would travel to the country.

Ap News, for example, wrote that “a recent surge in violence around football games is contributing to concerns over security when Germany hosts the European Championship.”

But German interior minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) insisted that police and security forces were ready for “all imaginable dangers”, adding that 22,000 officers would be on duty every day during the tournament.

German police have been working with foreign police forces to communicate about threats, particularly ahead of high-risk matches.

Germany has also stepped up checks at its borders and at train stations and airports. More than 400 people have been arrested since the start of the Euros and about 50 hooligans have been barred from entering Germany.

Cities overrun by fans and travel chaos

For those who don’t follow football or enjoy joining in the fanfare, among the more pressing issues with Euro 2024 is that German cities are overrun with fans.

With match games happening in ten cities around the country, and matches being broadcast on TVs from what feels like every bar and corner store in the country, the tournament is impossible to ignore. But not everyone is happy about it.

A survey by the opinion research institute Civey found that roughly half of Berlin residents are annoyed by the closure of Straße des 17. Juni for the city’s “fan mile”, which is the country’s largest fan zone. The fanzone will remain in place until July 25th.

Outside of fan zones, residents have noticed congestion on city streets and packed public transport on match days in some areas.

As would be expected, virtually everything – from Deutsche Bahn trains to local pubs – is operating at a higher capacity with 2.7 million fans from abroad visiting Germany this month.

In particular, public transport in Gelsenkirchen has proven to be a hotspot for travel chaos following matches. The issue was initially reported after the England vs. Serbia match, when crowds of fans were left waiting for trains for hours after the game ended.

Bizarrely, representatives from local transport companies brushed off any criticism, suggesting that trains and buses were running effectively. But similar issues were seen again after the Spain vs. Italy match a few days later.

England fans might understandably fear returning to Gelsenkirchen for their last 16 match on Sunday.

It’s not all bad – in fact, for many it’s all good

Even among those who don’t tap into the football frenzy, the championship and all the events and tourists it brings, do offer a chance for local German residents to meet an interesting mix of European visitors.

Among some of the touching highlights so far were Germany falling in love with Scottish fans and Turkish immigrants celebrating their home country’s victory across the country.

A special mention also goes out to Dutch fans who have reliably brought a sea of orange to their team’s games. Pre-match scenes of thousands of orange-clad supporters bopping to the earworm “Left Right” have predictably gone viral.

“I think fans from all over Europe feel very welcome with us,” German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has said.

Despite the aforementioned challenges, the overall experience of Euro 2024 has so far been positive off the pitch.

With the big matches yet to come the stakes will be raised another notch in the coming weeks, both on and off the pitch.

With reporting by AFP.

Member comments

Become a Member to leave a comment.

The host nation still views Campo Bahia as a key factor in building the camaraderie and team spirit to lay a winning foundation.

Now on home soil – and with isolation a little harder to come by than in the Brazilian jungle – the DFB have chosen the village of Herzogenaurach, a location historically intertwined with sport and football in Germany.

Former team director and Euro 1996 winner Oliver Bierhoff, who quit after Germany’s early exit at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, played a key role in developing the tournament base — known as the ‘Home Ground’ — alongside Adidas.

Bierhoff said the camp was designed to “awaken a spirit, a determination, a will to win” just as Campo Bahia had done a decade ago.

‘The town of bent necks’

A picturesque town of thatched houses and quiet squares with just over 20,000 residents, Herzogenaurach has made an outsized mark on world sport.

Two brothers – Adolf and Rudolf – founded the Dassler Brothers Shoe Company in 1919, but fell out just after World War II and decided to go their own ways.

In 1948, younger brother Adolf, nicknamed ‘Adi’, named his company Adidas while Rudolf founded Puma.

The Dassler brothers died in the 1970s having never made amends and what was a family feud spread to the entire town.

Herzogenaurach was nicknamed “the town of bent necks”, with residents known for looking at strangers’ shoes to work out which brand they were wearing before saying hello.

German players warm up during training. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Federico Gambarini

As rank underdogs, Germany won the 1954 World Cup final 3-2 on sodden turf against Hungary thanks to Adidas’ adjustable-stud boots.

Just outside the Adidas base, Adi has been commemorated with a bronze statue of him mending football boots.

Adidas’ relationship with the German national team remained a constant until 2024, when the DFB announced it had signed a deal with Nike from 2027, with the US sportswear giant reportedly doubling Adidas’ offer.

After a groundswell of criticism about the decision, Adidas have set about showing the DFB what they will be missing.

‘Feel at home’

Adidas CEO Bjorn Gulden, poached from Puma in 2023, said after the announcement “no matter what happens in 2027, we’re 100 percent behind the team.

“We’re fans and you’re family.”

Controversial at first, Germany’s pink-purple Euro 2024 kit has sold out across the country and is now officially the team’s best-selling away shirt of all time.

Despite the pending departure, Adidas updated the training facilities and living quarters at the Home Ground, which include an office for the coaches, meeting rooms, dining room, fitness and regeneration facilities and a common area with video consoles.

Heavily guarded and encircled by high trees to foil the prying eyes of the German tabloids and their drones, players live in three- or four-bedroom bungalows surrounding a pool.

Bayern defender Joshua Kimmich revealed the accommodation is divided up “by position”, adding “I’m in the unit with the other full-backs.”

The squad have made the most of their time in camp, with viral videos showing the players playing games, watching other matches and answering quiz questions about their teammates.

Veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who alongside Toni Kroos and Thomas Mueller is one of three 2014 World Cup winners in the squad, said the team was “delighted to be back at Adidas again.”

“Those who have been here longer already know their way around and feel a bit at home.”

By Daniel WIGHTON