BERLIN — The chants and shouts that have echoed through Berlin's streets over the past month were not expressions of anger or protest against deepening political and social divisions, but voices of joy and excitement over the European Championship soccer tournament.
The tournament, hosted by Germany, also known as UEFA Euro 2024, brought together enthusiasts of the “beautiful game” from across the continent at a time when many European countries are at odds.
In the German capital on Sunday night, fans gathered in front of television screens outside bars and convenience stores, sipping beer and soaking up the electric atmosphere as Spain played England in the final. As Spain beat England 2-1, the crowd roared in unison in several European languages.
Four weeks of frenzy have provided a welcome distraction from the discomfort many Europeans feel over the recent political advances of far-right forces preaching anti-immigration rhetoric across the continent.
The tournament kicked off on June 14, just days after European Parliament elections that saw the continent move to the right.
French President Emmanuel Macron has called for early parliamentary elections after his far-right National Rally party swept past centrists in the European Parliament elections. France men's soccer team captain Kylian Mbappé turned to politics during a press conference on June 16, urging young fans to vote against Marine Le Pen's far-right party.
“I see extremists knocking on the door of power,” Mbappe warned. “I want to be proud to represent France. I don't want to represent a country that doesn't match my values, that doesn't match our values.”
And after Le Pen's National Rally came in first in the first round of voting, Mbappe called the result “disastrous” and urged French fans to turn out to vote in the runoff. “We can't leave our country in the hands of these people,” the soccer star said on July 4.
In the end, the Rally National fell behind a left-wing/centre coalition in the second round of the French parliamentary elections on July 7.
Meanwhile in Germany, The far-right Alternative for Germany party rejected the country's national team as being too ethnically diverse. In the European Parliament elections, the AfD came second nationally and first in East Germany.
Bjorn Hocke, a member of the far-right wing of the AfD, He said he could no longer identify with the German team because “they have a rainbow of ideology oozing from every pore.”
His dog-whistle comments echo the findings of a recent survey commissioned by public broadcaster WDR, which suggested 21 percent of Germans “would like to see more white players in the national team.”
Germany's coach and team members condemned the poll as “racist”.
“I was here [at the championship] “I want to play for the whole country,” Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said. “Any player who can play at his best can play for the national team and give his all for his country.”
To promote diversity, Nagelsmann's players wore pink and purple uniforms throughout the tournament, the colours chosen as a play on the word “diversity”. Bunt — meaning colorful, a term often used in German to refer to multicultural and LGBTQ+ communities. The jersey has become the team's fastest-selling away kit.
Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images
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AFP via Getty Images
While the AfD dismissed the shirts as “woke”, it is hard for the party to deny that diversity on the playing field leads to success.
Take for example Spain's Lamine Yamal, who is just 17 years old and is garnering attention as a rising star in the tournament.
After becoming the youngest player in UEFA Euro history to score a goal, Yamal spelled out the number 304 with his fingers, proudly representing the postcode of Rocafonda, the multicultural district in the Catalan city of Mataró where he grew up with his Moroccan father and Equatorial Guinean mother.
Last week, King Felipe VI of Spain praised Yamal's “talent” and exceptional skill after helping Spain win the tournament on Sunday.
For four weeks, the European Championships showed the Europe that many still aspire to be: united in diversity.
Copyright 2024 NPR
