The mood in Berlin turned sour last night as the German national team lost the game against Paraguay, officially eliminating them from the FIFA World Cup. Instead of parties and celebrations lasting through the night, disappointed fans left public viewing events and went to bed frustrated.
The match was intense from the start, but things got especially tense for German fans once Paraguay scored their first goal. Although Germany managed to even out the score 1:1 in the second half of the game, they ultimately lost 3 to 4 in the penalty round. This was particularly painful for fans, considering the German team has historically won when it comes down to penalty shots.
As Berliners went home frustrated and disappointed, the public in Asunción and other cities in Paraguay celebrated their victory well into the night. The country’s president, Santiago Peña went so far as to declare today a national holiday by decree, allowing Paraguayans to party through the night without having to worry about getting up to work in the morning.
In Berlin, Germany’s loss likely means the end of World Cup events being such a large part of public life. Perhaps with the exception of the final match on July 19, sports bars and Spätis will likely no longer draw crowds quite as large as they were last night. Of course, that’s not to say football is totally over in the city this summer. But the question is: who will Berliners cheer for now?
