Forget the dark headlines about corona and human rights.
Now the European Championship is starting in Germany – and many are hoping for a championship party with football in focus.
If you want to go beyond the boundaries of football, I think it's good for Europe and the whole world, says Football Channel's Germany expert Keven Bader.
The latest men's football championships have been marked by chaos, uncertainty, and controversy:
+ The World Championship in Russia 2018 was accused of corruption. The country was accused of buying the hosting rights.
+ The European Championship 2020 was postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The restrictions made a festive atmosphere impossible. It didn't get any easier with the championship being spread across eleven countries.
+ The World Championship in Qatar 2022 was marked by criticism of the country's view on human rights.
On Friday, the European Championship begins, and Football Channel's Germany expert Keven Bader is delighted that championship football is back to "normal" mode.
"Creating a people's festival, for everyone"
I think it's very good for football. And if you want to go even further, I think it's good for Europe and the whole world. It's something people talk about a lot in Germany. When they hosted the World Championship in 2006, one of the most important things was to create a people's festival, for everyone. To be welcoming, open, and show that you can do things together, regardless of which country you come from, says Bader and continues:
Considering the current circumstances in Europe and the world, it would be fantastic to get a new people's festival where everyone rejoices over different successes, regardless of which nation you come from.
"Get rid of the hate"
This is the first time since the World Championship 2006 that Germany is hosting a men's championship.
It was the first championship where the Germans, after the Second World War, the DDR, and all that, were happy and proud to be German. It was the first time people waved German flags on the streets and showed that they really are an open people and want to have people with them, says Bader and continues:
You want to get rid of the hate, be more open, and, cliché as it may sound, show love. That's what you feel among the people, that they really need this.
"One of the big favourites"
Germany's national team has failed in three consecutive championships and has not taken a medal since the World Championship gold in Brazil in 2014. But this year, hope has been rekindled among the people.
If you had asked six months ago, most people would have just said, "I don't want to talk about it, it'll be a fiasco". But now, after Nagelsmann (Julian, national coach of the German men's team) and the association have succeeded, they have managed to instil hope and courage in both the team and the people, says Bader.
Germany meets Scotland in the European Championship premiere on Friday.
Venues: Berlin, Munich, Dortmund, Cologne, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Gelsenkirchen, Leipzig, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf.
14 June: The championship begins (Germany-Scotland).
29 June: The round of 16 begins.
5-6 July: Quarter-finals.
9-10 July: Semi-finals.
14 July: Final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.
