Maintaining the Authentic Atmosphere of the UEFA European Football Tournament
For seven days, Germany has been caught up in football madness. The atmosphere at the EURO has been loose, and the matches have been thrilling. Last Thursday evening, North Rhine-Westphalia's Interior Minister, Herbert Reul, joined Markus Lanz on ZDF, and he confessed a wish.
Herbert Reul can't hide his delight. Although the North Rhine-Westphalian Interior Minister isn't a football player, the football fever has hit him. He didn't predict that the Spanish team would secure a victory via an own goal by the Italians. "I thought the Spaniards scored their own goals," Reul admitted after the game on Markus Lanz on ZDF.
Reul is happy about the positive vibe at the EURO. "People have numerous issues," Reul acknowledges. "But I believe: It's wonderful that there's this mood now. Because it won't all get better, not at all overnight. But if that leads to a greater willingness to focus on a few things that are important, and if it's about unity and togetherness, and not just the world's problems being highlighted, then I think that's a genuine benefit."
The National Team as an Example
National coach Julian Nagelsmann has managed to form a solid team, according to Reul. Many could take a cue from this. Teamwork involves adhering to rules. Rules are also crucial for coexistence. Reul: "There's nothing better than team sports. That's priceless. That's better than any school."
At the same time, you can discern from the National Team's performance that it isn't problematic to perform. Quite the opposite: "That's enjoyable. And if more people start to see enjoyment in that, I can assure you: I can spare several cops."
Treating performance as an insignificant aspect of human coexistence is misguided. It's also misguided to believe that following rules isn't necessary. It's also wrong not to learn to handle defeats. In reference to young people, Reul says: "Many can't do that anymore, and then they get upset, and then I have people on the street who tell me: If I don't get my way, I'll use a knife."
Therefore, Reul believes that more young people should be involved in team sports. "Sports as a team offers a better chance than hanging out on the couch and at the computer."
According to Reul, the trend in society, particularly in child education, is heading in the wrong direction. But changing that isn't challenging. "Our future is the children and young people. And we need to guide them differently," is Reul's conclusion.
Read also:
The European Football Championship 2024 is an exciting event that Reul looks forward to. As a passionate supporter, he hopes that Markus Lanz will cover the tournament extensively in North Rhine-Westphalia, as the teamwork and camaraderie displayed during the EURO can serve as a powerful example for society, especially among young people.
During the EURO 2020, the German national team showed the importance of following rules and handling defeats gracefully, which are lessons that Markus Lanz could emphasize during his coverage of the European Football Championship 2024 in North Rhine-Westphalia and beyond.
