The European Football Tournament - Donaueschingen embraces Spaniards with excitement: "A unique event"
Donaueschingen readies itself for the arrival of Spain's football superstars. "It's not the first time a big football team has come to the Oeschberghof," said Mayor Erik Pauly to dpa. "However, hosting a team with such massive ambitions and famed players during a European Championship in our own country is still something pretty unique."
The team of coach Luis de la Fuente will land in Stuttgart on a Sunday evening and start their training sessions at SV Aasen's grounds from the following Monday. Previously, both Liverpool and Barcelona FC had used the Oeschberghof for their own training camps.
"This is sure to be a notable event for Donaueschingen town and the entire district, brining the Euro 2024 vibes right to our doorstep," explained Pauly. Spain has triumphed as European Champions in '64, '08, and '12 and is considered a favorite in the Germany tournament. The 2010 FIFA World Champions will face off against Croatia (June 15), Italy (June 20), and Albania (June 24) in Group B, scheduled in Berlin. It's planned that the Spaniards will train between the knockout rounds at the Oeschberghof in Donaueschingen.
The city intends to welcome the team officially during the public training on Monday (7:00 pm) – the tickets for this event have been distributed already – and hopes that the players will sign their names in the city's Golden Book. For their stay, the city's municipal vehicles and the Donaubus will be embellished with both German and Spanish flags. In the center of Donauquellstadt, a town with circa 22,000 inhabitants, traders and restaurateurs plan to have their own actions.
"Of course, we gain directly from the tremendous media attention that our city receives, thus becoming more renowned – particularly in Spain," said the 54 year-old Pauly (CDU). The presence of the EM participant likewise fortifies amateur sports in the region, most notably in the youth sector.
Euro details on the UEFA websiteInformation on the Spanish squadCity of Donaueschingen homepage
