European Football Championship - Chip in the ball, Fan parties, Rumpelkicks: What remains of the EM?
Captain only in name, passionate fan marches and for the final, one doesn't necessarily have to show great football: Central insights of the European Championship before the grand showdown between Spain and England. Some things remain in memory, some may have concrete consequences for club football. What stood out and remains from the Tournament in Germany?
Football Festival
Before the tournament, concerns were great: Is a Summer Fairy Tale 2.0 possible? Will the EM turn into a big party like the WM 2006? Although the times back then were different and a comparison is difficult, one can hold on to this: Yes, fans from all over Europe turned the tournament into a big football festival.
From singing Scots, hopping Netherlanders to frenetically supporting Turks: The EM offered in the stadiums and inner cities a football exceptional state, which many had longed for. It remained mostly peaceful. Some clashes between rival fans occurred, but the feared major violence outbreaks like at some previous tournaments stayed away.
Despite the bitter elimination in the quarterfinals against Spain, the German national team contributed to the overall positive mood with engaged and inspiring performances.
Security instead of Offensive Spectacle
While Julian Nagelsmann's team received much praise for their offensive playstyle, some favorites struggled through the tournament. Some received their dismissal early, like the Belgian team coached by Domenico Tedesco, who were knocked out in the round of 16. Others made it far with a defensive stability and control-oriented tactic.
France lost in the semifinals to Spain, although the World Champion of 2018 barely managed to use the exceptional talents of their strikers Kylian Mbappé beforehand. England can dream of the title in the Final on Sunday (9 p.m./ARD and MagentaTV) after 58 years.
Given the attacking potential of the most expensive EM team with Bayern striker Harry Kane and Champions League winner Jude Bellingham, the sometimes uninspired performances of the Three Lions were alarming. However, it was enough for the final. The EM thus confirmed the thesis: Successful football does not necessarily have to be beautiful football.
Complaints only from the team captain
This new communication rule has proven itself at the EM and is to be applied in club football in the future. For European cup competitions, the UEFA has already decided on this. Players who do not comply will be punished with a yellow card.
The Bundesliga leadership of the top referees at the German Football Association (DFB) will express themselves on this after the EM. The rule, however, has not only fans. So, German national player Robert Andrich from German champion Bayer Leverkusen expressed his skepticism about taking it up in the Bundesliga during the tournament.
Train and Plane
The punctuality - or lack thereof - of the Germans Bahn is a popular topic of discussion and complaint in this country. At the EM, reports from foreign fans and media about train disruptions, overcrowded platforms, and numerous delays in long-distance traffic caused a stir.
Speaker Anja Broker justified deficits, among other things, with infrastructure issues and told ARD during the tournament: "We were indeed not quite at the top of our game, our traffic at the European Championship did not run smoothly." Tournament director Philipp Lahm criticized the lack of investments in infrastructure.
This week, the Dutch team had to travel to the Dortmund semi-final from Wolfsburg by plane due to a sudden train failure. Other teams also relied on short-haul flights and countered the sustainability concept of the tournament. "That's not very sustainable, as one can imagine," said Barbara Metz from the German Environmental Aid on ZDF.
Technology
Exciting - or not: A chip in the ball that indicates when and how hard the playing equipment was touched helps referees at the EM in their decision-making. The German national team also benefited from this in the round of 16 against Denmark. A cross from David Raum had brushed against the hand of the Dane Joachim Andersen in the penalty area.
According to video images, English referee Michael Oliver called for a penalty, which Kai Havertz converted to a 1:0. The ball chip technology also helped in the video proof. Former German national player Michael Ballack criticized the aid tool sharply. "We could just abolish this chip thing that's shown there," he said on MagentaTV. "We should still judge by human understanding."
Strangely enough, the explanations of VAR decisions on the video screens in the stadiums were lengthier than in the Bundesliga. 3D animations were also used.
Flash Mobs
A selfie with Cristiano Ronaldo: With this goal in mind, several fans stormed the field during the EM and caused chaotic scenes. Particularly curious was the 3:0 of Portugal against Turkey. Ronaldo was confronted with selfie hunters several times during the game. After the final whistle, other fans tried their luck.
UEFA competition chief Martin Kallen also spoke of flash mobs with other motives. There was commercial interest in the game and people who paid for it, he said. "Very annoying" found Kallen the flash mobs and said: "One should be able to play a football game through. But we have lived with it and adapted, that we have less and less left."
- Despite some clashes between rival fans, the European Championship in Germany turned into a big football festival, filled with passionate fans from all over Europe.
- The German national team, though eliminating early against Spain, contributed to the overall positive mood with engaged and inspiring performances.
- Some favorites struggled through the tournament, like Belgium coached by Domenico Tedesco, who were knocked out in the round of 16.
- France lost in the semifinals to Spain, despite Kylian Mbappe's exceptional talents, barely utilized beforehand.
- England, with their attacking potential, can dream of the title in the Final, after 58 years, despite sometimes uninspired performances.
- The new communication rule, punishing non-compliant players with a yellow card, has proven successful at the EM and will be applied in future club football.
- Criticisms of the EM's train system came from foreign fans and media, with disruptions, overcrowded platforms, and delayed long-distance traffic causing a stir.
- Exciting technology, like a chip in the ball indicating when and how hard the playing equipment was touched, helped referees at the EM in their decision-making.
- Flash mobs caused chaotic scenes during the EM, with fans storming the field and seeking selfies with players like Cristiano Ronaldo.
- According to UEFA competition chief Martin Kallen, flash mobs had other motives, including commercial interest and paying fans, which he found "very annoying."
