Scottish celebrants spread enthusiasm for the European Movement in Germany.
Germans are containing their enthusiasm prior to the commencement of the domestic European Championships, whereas Scottish football enthusiasts display a stark contrast. They accumulate in the Munich city center before the inaugural game.
Midway in Munich, a peculiar scene emerges: A group of Scottish football fans settle in the eateries circcling Marienplatz under the sun, engage in beverage consumption, and revel. Surrounding this sea of people clad in dark blue shirts, traditional kilts, and ample beer are the Munich dwellers and Munich residents, who have pulled out their smartphones to film, click photographs, and marvel.
There's been a substantial amount of chatter and writing about this: The Football European Championships have arrived in Germany. The hosts are yet to acclimatise to the tournament within their country. In a Forsa survey sponsored by RTL/ntv, merely 40% of the respondents expressed eagerness towards the tournament. A potential factor might be the German team, which inspires ambiguity. Only a third of the respondents are confident of the team led by national coach Julian Nagelsmann reaching the semi-finals.
Compared to these German statistics, the Scottish fans in Munich city center stand out. Such moments signify the charm of the tournament - beyond the sporting aspect - and animate all marketing campaigns. The Marienplatz represents one of the fan zones in the city. Here you could witness how the Scottish supporters in a bustling walkway continue to hurl a giant inflatable beach football into the air and cheer wildly each time. Simultaneously, a bagpiper assumes a position in front of the Mariensäule at the town hall, enveloped by fans who sing along.
From Munich's central train station, the Scottish invasion becomes perceptible in the mid-afternoon. The ICE trains in the direction of the "host city" are overcrowded. Among the passengers are many who hail from the island. If you don't spot the Scots by their attire (shirt or kilt), then by their heavy accent, which is almost incomprehensible for the inexperienced listener. Many of the trains also still experience delays, not merely due to the visitation surge, but also due to the lingering aftermath of the disastrous floods in southern Germany. The "Sueddeutsche Zeitung" informed the passenger association Pro Bahn that travellers should rather allow a two-hour buffer to make timely arrivals.
Even among the Scottish supporters, not everything proceeds smoothly. The day prior, approximately 60,000 people rollicked at the Fanfest on the Theresienwiese for the beginning of the European Championship with the live music of Ed Sheeran, Mark Forster, Nelly Furtado, Dylan, and Tim Bendzko. After that, several hundred Scottish fans advanced towards the Marienplatz to conclude the evening. As per "Bild" newspaper, some initiated trouble at two nearby eateries. The police affirmed this to the newspaper, but just furniture, tables, and beer glasses were damaged.
Authoritatively, the home European Championships launch on Friday, as the ball rolls for the initial time. The German team will usher the tournament with the first group stage game against Scotland (9 pm / ZDF, MagentaTV and in the ntv.de live ticker). Inside the stadium, only 10,000 of the arriving guests will have a place, the rest will have to content with the so-called fan zone at Marienplatz or the beer halls. And that will be a fair amount: In the media, the extraordinary number of 200,000 incoming fans from the island is being circulated. The footage from the Munich city center indicates: It seems like it's been fabricated.
