Vonfuse(d) Me

Football madness has taken over Hannover. Four games have happened here so far, with one more coming up tonight.

It started with Italy - Ghana. I was not very aware that the game was happening here at all until I saw it on TV. It must have been because I hardly left the house.

The second game was Mexico - Angola. This time I saw the whole madness. In town, three days before the game, I came across a group of 20 Mexicans in full costumes, with violins, having a music battle with a group of Angolans, also in full costumes, with trumpets. And of course many, many supporters behind every side dancing along. And when they were done they danced past one another in two rows and shook hands.
On the actual day of the game I walked through town. I bough a small Angolan flag. I took the free offer from one of our main malls and had my face painted with the Angolan Flag. Many people made comments, I took my picture with some, and some random Mexican TV station interviewed me, half in english, half in spanish. I was with the 5 000 Angolans, as opposed to the 40 000 Mexicans in town that night... :D




Then came Costa Rica - Poland. And with it one ticket that I had bought over the internet from the official page. You had to keep refreshing one page every second until you found a ticket and then be quick enough with word verifications etc, but I managed. Rudy and Manuel came by for the evening. I gave my ticket to Rudy, hoping I'd be able to find another one later. Which proved slightly more difficult, but more on that later. Manuel and me went to see Ecuador - Germany in the Fan Fest, via "public viewing" and saw many many germans be very randomly happy ;) . Rudy enjoyed the game, but had a seat in the polish sector. In fact, nearly all sectors were polish sectors, considering how many were there. When he jumped up and celebrated Costa Rica going in lead 1-0, a polish guy behind him kindly tapped him on the shoulder and gestured him to calm down again ;) .




Then came the last one of the group games in Hannover - Switzerland against South Korea. And for the first time there was actually a lot at stake for both teams, they both wanted to qualify for the next round. I was in town before the game again. The problem this time was that both teams had red as their team colour - so the whole town centre was a big red blob. Most were Swiss, dressed up in interesting ways. I liked the ones with udders on their heads, or with red caveman costumes. And of course the hats with 15 Swiss flags sticking out. But what intrigued me was what football games must be like in South Korea if their fans come to games abroad dressed like this... hmm...




Now tonight Spain is playing France in the knockout round, with everything at stake - and I shall be in the stadium :) . I did manage to get another ticket over ebay, with some luck and a bit extra to pay, and just came back from having it transferred to my name etc. I'll sit block W11, on the top. That is on the opposite side, just next to the left curve, in case they happen to show that area on TV tonight ;) . I am quite excited, but my main problem is that I still don't know whom to cheer for. I (dis)like both teams the same, really. Ah, I'll find something. Pictures and exciting news, should anything exciting happen, will come here afterwards :) .

Ole, ole, allez, allez?

Current Music: Xiu Xiu - Save Me