Jernie's Hub

The currently running Euro 2008 football tournament keeps Europeans glued on to their televisions during matches and I am not an exception. Although I don't understand fully the mechanics and the technicalities of the game, it doesn't stop me from getting hooked to it.

Last week's quarter final matches had left the four teams afloat for this week's semi-final match:

Germany vs. Turkey (June 25) and Russia vs. Spain (June 26). I was so thrilled and nervous during the match of Germany vs. Portugal that I decided to watch it at home and kept a constant contact with Herbert during the course of the game. Every time a goal was made by either of the teams, the news reached him rightaway. I know very well the Germans' unrelenting loyalty and support to their team as I experienced it during the 2006 Football Worldcup.

Fortunately, the game went in favor of the German team. I was ecstatic that I had to call my parents-in-law in Germany rightaway who were still cheering for the victory. My mother-in-law said that she was exhausted with the stress and pressure of the game. Whew! How much more for those ones in the stadium? The football mania there is unbelievable! If there is a match in the evening you can be 101% percent sure that the streets will be deserted. You won't see a single soul wandering around. When the favored team makes a goal, suddenly you would hear horns coming on, drums beating and cheering from the neighbors. Some of them have to even wear their team's shirts and put on face paints facing in front of their televisions. The flags are hanged by the windows and attached into their cars.

This football fever is also resonated here in Toronto; cars carrying flags and some bars/restaurants have European flags displayed outside.I just dont know how it is in other parts of Ontario or Canada as a whole. During my usual strolls I bumped into the food court of the Brookfield place where they put huge TV screens for the football game. I thought it must be fun to watch the game with other people around so I decided to go down there for the Turkey vs. Croatia match.

This coming Wednesday will be a big event in Germany. I'm thinking of watching it outside, surely it will be fun and scary. I just hope that the German team will make their way through the Final. 'Mal sehen', as the Germans say. (We will see)