European Football Championship Commences in Munich, featuring a brief opening event and a match involving Germany
The grand finale of the event was a quick fireworks show. There was a debate on whether fireworks could be used beforehand, as they are not allowed in German football arenas during matches, as audiences often get fined for ignoring this rule and igniting fireworks within the crowd.
The European Championship event is themed "United by football, United in Europe's Heart." Heidi Beckenbauer, the late football legend Franz Beckenbauer's wife (who died in January), brought the EM Cup onto the field. Heidi was the captain of the German team that secured the country's first European Championship title in 1972. Bernhard Dietz and Jürgen Klinsmann, captains of the German teams that won the European Championships in 1980 and 1996, also showed up at the spectacle. Germany, having three European Championship victories, is now tied with Spain for the record.
The Federal President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, was one of the spectators for the initial clash between Germany and Scotland. Before the game, Steinmeier showed faith in Germany's success, citing the head coach Julian Nagelsmann's thorough preparation of the team.
The event winds up by July 14. A total of 24 nations will participate, and 51 football matches will be played across ten locations. As the hosts, Germany aims to set examples for future major sports events regarding sustainability.
Security is a significant aspect, with the Federal Ministry of the Interior assessing an increased security risk due to the current global environment. Minister of the Interior in Bavaria, Joachim Herrmann (CSU), thinks the terror threat is greater than during the serene 2006 World Cup in Germany.
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Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the Federal President of Germany, attended the opening ceremony of the European Football Championship in Munich. Heidi Beckenbauer, widow of the legendary footballer Franz Beckenbauer, brought the EM Cup onto the field, reminding everyone of Germany's first European Championship victory in 1972. Despite the security concerns due to the current global environment, the opening game between Germany and Scotland commenced, and the crowd in Munich showed their passion for football with pyrotechnics, defying the ban in German football arenas.In the spirit of unity and football, Germany, with its three European Championship victories, has tied Spain for the most wins in European Football Championships. As the hosts, Germany aims to maintain a sustainable approach to major sports events, with 24 nations set to participate in the championship, playing a total of 51 matches across ten locations.
