It was supposed to be the championship that would unite both Germany and Europe. It is a big responsibility to place on football. Too big, it would turn out again. All the goals and the occasionally brilliant play in this European Championship have for a long time done everything they could to overshadow one obvious fact: Politics is almost on the way to becoming more important than the sport in the biggest sports championships. The grandstands at European Championship play-off matches are increasingly becoming perfect arenas for political propaganda. And no one dares – or wants – to stop it. Empty threats Serbia have also not withdrawn from the championship, as they threatened to do, after both Albanian and Croatian fans are said to have sung songs with lyrics about killing Serbs, when the two near-neighbors met for a group stage match. Serbia, which had already been fined for using a flag containing Kosovo, reacted by demanding severe penalties for the two rivals. Uefa has not yet reached its conclusion. HIGH TEMPERATURE: Croatian and Albanian fans are accused of singing crude songs about Serbs. Photo: Sunday Alamba / AP When the punishment comes, as it surely will, it will be in the form of meaningless and purely symbolic fines – and not in the form of ban or point penalty. Should Uefa come up with a real penalty, it will cost too much. Because the play-off matches in championships are too important and too attractive and have an audience that is partly so financially strong, partly so complex that it is bordering on impossible to distinguish supporters who are directly connected to the nation or the factions you want to target. Empty stands, which would be the only punishment with a real and visible effect for those affected? In qualifying matches – possibly. In the EC play-offs – of course not. The EC should not just be a party in Germany, it should be in front of screens all over Europe at the same time. Point penalties are also considered overly intrusive, when there are so few matches that decide the further fate of the national teams in the championships. Then you end up with fines, with a maximum of a symbolic effect. Serbia were fined just €12,000 when their supporters waved the flag that included Kosovo in their match against England. APPEARED: These symbols are seen as a provocation against Kosovo. Nevertheless, they appeared when Serbia played England. Photo: Sondre Skandsen / NTB/news So around a day’s salary for the biggest stars in the EC. Then everything rolls on. Including the markings from the stands. Real punishment against the participating nations obviously costs too much. Not necessarily politically, but definitely in money. While the media loves the controversies. Without always wanting to admit it. The last EC needed Nevertheless, we all thought we could now finally breathe into a sporting focus, after an opening week of the EC characterized more by nationalism, racism, eagles and flags than by world-class football. We then also started the second EC weekend with renewed hope that Ukraine will be able to use the EC to pay tribute to national unity in a war situation after they beat Slovakia 2-1. Which is a political element pretty much everyone embraces. Russia is banned. Fortunately, Belarus did not qualify. Nor Israel. Which should make it easier to focus on support for Ukraine. But they would not be allowed to hold the attention for long. Austrian Kronen Zeitung published pictures from the second match that had been played on Friday evening, the one between Poland and Austria. From a banner raised in a corner of the Austrian stand. Images the TV cameras had not captured. Or chose to neglect. “Defend Europe” was the message on the banner of the far-right group “Identitären Bewegung (IB)”. Defend Europe. Understood; close the borders to immigration. The last thing this EC wants to symbolize. Photo: Screenshot Kronen Zeitung Regardless of other Austrian supporters, after a few minutes the banner was removed. Because consciousness is back. About the fact that the xenophobic and nationalist themes that have already received far too much attention during the EC will be with us all the way to the final day on 14 July. While we wait for Mbappé As you know, this is also Bastille Day. France’s National Day. And everyone believes the French team will honor the Republic with their presence in the final. Although no one yet knows if the fixed star Kylian Mbappé will play with a mask. Or whether he still believes the young French can be mobilized to fight against the extreme forces he warned against ahead of the opening match against Austria. Because the homeland is divided. And only European Championship success can possibly contribute to a form of national gathering, exactly at odds with Nasjonal Samling, which is the right-wing party that won the EU elections convincingly. STAR: Kylian Mbappé. Photo: Kai Pfaffenbach / Reuters Rishi’s going home It’s even worse for the English. Or at least for the floundering British government. The first two games in the EC have in and of themselves yielded four points, after a win against Serbia and a draw against Denmark. England top their group. But at the same time also EC’s unofficial worry barometer. Because no one is happy with the game. Nobody thinks they can finally become European champions. And everyone is still wondering why Prime Minister Rishi Sunak thought it was a good idea to call a new election in the middle of the EC. PRIME MINISTER: Rishi Sunak. Photo: LEON NEAL / AFP The next EC will be played in Great Britain and Ireland in four years. But it is unlikely to happen with Rishi Sunak as British Prime Minister. Some speculated whether his surprisingly early re-election was added to the start of July, between the EC quarter-finals and semi-finals, to give Sunak a desperately needed voter boost in the wake of a possible England success in Germany. The feel-good factor. Most agree that not even that can save the sinking conservative ship. “England only wins the World Cup under a leader from Labour”, said then Prime Minister Harold Wilson in 1966. After the election on 4 July, we will see if the same applies to the EC. Alternatives for Germany In the run-up to the EC, much of the focus was on a politically divided Germany, where the far-right AfD had used the EU election on 7 June as a valuable prelude to the EC by becoming the country’s second largest party. But “Die Mannschaft”, as the German national team is called, fought back in the most elegant way. Namely by excelling on the field in the first two games. With players like Gundogan, Tah and Musiala. There are now no other options for Germany other than EC gold. SHOOTING STARS: Musiala is German football’s future and present. Photo: Darko Vojinovic / AP While no one claims anymore that the German national team has been destroyed by woke, equality ideals and immigrants without real commitment to the kit. And let football just be football, for 90 minutes at a time On Sunday, Germany play again, this time against Switzerland. The match can be seen on news at 9pm. The broadcast is otherwise, like all others from the totally non-political European Championship, sponsored by Visit Qatar. This goal was canceled for offside 00:20 Commentator against beer-throwing: – End 00:16 Chance bonanza in Netherlands – France 02:10 Reacts to mask suggestion: – No, no, no! 00:46 Show more Published 23.06.2024, at 11.57
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