EURO 2024 - Lahm enthusiastic: Fan marches as the "latest mass phenomenon"
Tournament director Philipp Lahm drew a satisfied interim balance after the group stage of the UEFA European Football Championship and was particularly pleased with the fans of the nations. "Fans bring joy to life. Fan marches through the inner cities are the newest mass phenomenon. It's these encounters that make the tournament a European festival. It's just great fun and it can continue like this," Lahm wrote on the short message service X.
During the group stage, fan marches with tens of thousands of fans could be observed in the cities. Particularly large and loud fan groups were the Netherlands, Turkey, Austria, and Romania at the start. The EM shows "how valuable such large-scale events are. They bring people together and create shared experiences," wrote the 40-year-old organizational chief. "The atmosphere in the German stadiums and on the streets shows how much football connects people."
36 of the 51 matches have already been played at the EM. This Saturday (6:00 PM) the knockout round begins with the match between Switzerland and defending champion Italy. Germany's performance with two wins and a draw has also contributed to the enthusiastic mood in the host country so far.
- The fan march through Berlin's streets was a lively spectacle, showcasing the unyielding spirit of German soccer fans during the EM.
- Despite the preliminary round conclusions, the fan enthusiasm for soccer in Europe, as demonstrated by the Fan march in Germany, remains a mass phenomenon.
- The Netherlands, Turkey, Austria, and Romania fan groups led impressive fan marches across various European cities, adding to the rich tapestry of the EM.
- With the European Football Championship's EM's group stage wrapped up, eyes turn to Berlin for the exciting knockout round matches, including Germany's neighbor Switzerland facing Italy.
- According to tournament director Philipp Lahm, the EM has once again proven its value as a European unifier, bringing people together through shared experiences during fan marches and matches.
- Although the enthusiasm and energy of fan marches in cities like Germany may be looked upon as 'lame' by some, for soccer enthusiasts, it's an emblematic and crucial aspect of Europe's connection with the EM.
