Germany is determined to turn the football World Cup into a giant party again even if it takes place some 5,000 miles away in South Africa.
Germans will try to forget about massive federal budget cuts announced by Chancellor Angela Merkel when South Africa 2010 kicks off on Friday. Millions will flock around giant television screens throughout the country.
German and other flags are already being draped on balconies from Aschaffenburg to Zwickau and attached to cars around the nation.
ADVERTISEMENT
Plastic vuvuzelas are selling like hot cakes or a simply given away, and old and young are busy collecting stickers of all the World Cup stars.
Public viewing drew more than 15 million people when Germany hosted the last World Cup in 2006. The nation transcended its proverbial efficiency image to a country of good-natured revellers.
It helped the cause that the German team went all the way to the semifinals and finished in third place.
ADVERTISEMENT
Germany’s 2010 team cannot be counted out either. And Joachim Loew’s men drew plenty of praise for their attacking game in the second half of a 3-1 victory against Bosnia-Herzegovina last week before setting off for South Africa on Sunday.
Also aboard the A380 super jumbo with the team were 11 lucky listeners of a local Frankfurt radio station drawn from a large number of entries. They will visit game parks and see the first German match against Australia live in Durban along with other German fans who have bought tickets.
Millions of other fans will gather on squares and streets on Sunday night for the game, as part of some 1,600 official fanfests.