06/21/2002
BERLIN - Locals tensely watched Germany's World Cup team against the
underdog United States squad, then broke out in celebration after it
scratched out a close victory.
Thousands at downtown Berlin's Potsdamer Platz watched the quarterfinal
match on a big-screen TV, waved German flags, and roared as Michael
Ballack headed in the game's only goal late in the first half.
Up until then, the smattering of American fans in the crowd had plenty
to cheer about.
"The States has nothing to lose," said Dennis Freeman, a 20-year-old
native of San Diego living in Berlin who draped himself in the American
flag. "Germany has a reputation."
After the victory, impromptu parades broke out in cities across the
country. Frankfurt's red light district exploded with a chorus of
whistles, blowing horns, and cries of "Deutschland!!" as fans waved red,
gold and black flags.
Hundreds marched down the capital's Kurfuerstendamm boulevard singing
victory songs, beating on drums, and shouting in jubilation.
Going into the game, the Germans were the overwhelming favorites. The
three-time champions had 51 World Cup victories to the Americans' six.
"It's really fun as an American to be the underdog," said Anna LeVine, a
32-year-old photographer from New York who works in Berlin. "It's so
rare that we're in this position."
At the Melrose Bar and Grill near Kurfuerstendamm, screams went up when
Tony Sanneh's header hit the German goal's side netting in the dying
minutes. After the game, even the Americans joined in the celebration.
"They should have run circles around us," said Karen Snedker, 27, of
Seattle. "The fact that it was only 1-0 shows a lot."
Her husband, Steve Pfaff, 32, said the match shows the United States is
on the rise as a soccer power.
"The USA is the future because there are so many young kids playing
soccer now," he said.
At Kelley Barracks in Stuttgart, about 100 Americans and Germans watched
the game together in an event organized by the U.S. military's 6th Area
Support Group.
Some of the American fans wore stars-and-stripes T-shirts, and one man
walked around with a soccer ball on his head with the American flag
sticking out of the top. The close game fed into the American
supporters' belief that their team would not go down easily.
"Never underestimate the American spirit," said Sheree Beauchamp, a
secretary at the barracks from Wimberley, Texas.
Peter Gruen from Stuttgart, who works at the base, cheered for Germany
but hoped for a close result.
"These are our good friends," the 40-year-old Gruen said.
Watching the game at Bremen's Johnny B. Goode pub, James Redmond of San
Francisco never gave up hope even though the United States had never won
a World Cup game in gave up the first goal.
Even after the game, Redmond, a trainer for the Bremerhaven Seahawks
football team, said the United States should have won.
"I know the Americans were the better team today, but we made our own
mistakes."