Hamburg, July 9 (DPA) Motivated by the attractive football of Juergen Klinsmann's team, Germans turned their World Cup into 'a Woodstock of sport' with a new and refreshing display of patriotism.
Germans had been hesitant to show any kind of national pride since the end of the Nazi regime, but the 30 days of football helped the younger generation in particular discover the nation's black, red and gold flag.
Initial fears of neo-Nazi activity evaporated along with fears of hooliganism as millions of Germans celebrated the biggest sports party in history with their foreign visitors in almost Mediterranean-like weather conditions.
The carnival atmosphere took both Germans and foreigners by surprise, giving a back seat to Germany's legendary efficiency, which had originally been expected to be the most positive aspect of the June 9-July 9 tournament.
'It's no surprise that everything is well-organised, they are Germans after all. But I would have never believed that they would outdo themselves in partying as well,' said Anna Milewska, a 25-year-old Polish woman from Crakow.
French weekly L'Express spoke of the 'Woodstock of sport' and argued that 'this kind of patriotism scares no one any more.'
Alastair Campbell, a former advisor to British Prime Minister Tony Blair, said the World Cup had done what no politician or diplomat was capable of for decades.
'A succession of German ambassadors to London have in the past, beaten a path to my door to ask how I think they can improve their country's image. The World Cup has done it, succeeding where all our grand plans for ministerial, cultural and educational exchanges took them only so far.
'Germany may have lost their enthralling semi-final against Italy. But in staging the tournament as they have, and in projecting themselves in the way they have, they have secured a different and longer lasting prize - the image of a new Germany.'
Campbell added, 'The flag is the key', comparing it to the situation in England where 'the cross of St. George (was) rescued from the clutches of the far right' at the World Cup.
In the Netherlands, the columnist of the Trouw daily said the black, red and gold had nothing to do with Adolf Hitler in the first place.
'As if all this was about the swastika flag. The Nazis never used black, red and gold and the Germans should finally stop whingeing about their flag.'
The national debate on whether the mass-rediscovery of the flag was appropriate was swept away by the millions proudly waving the national colours at the fan fests, flying flags on their cars, wearing them as bikinis and sarongs or simply painting their faces black, red and gold.
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Guenther Grass agreed: 'We Germans are world champions in being concerned. But then everything went a different, very relaxed, way.
'The Germans were even ready to display their flag in a happy fashion and even used this flag as a fashion statement. Old women found new make-up with black, red and gold on their cheeks, some had wigs in the national colours as did baby comforters.'
The man who really started it all, Juergen Klinsmann, the German coach who restored pride in the team by changing it dramatically and giving it enthusiasm, was pleased with what he created.
'It's wonderful to see cars with flags driving through the streets. It is something that unites and one should enjoy it.
'We want to contribute our part by playing good and successful football. If a little bit more patriotism comes into it, that's super. We think it's great,' said the California-based Klinsmann.
Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke of a 'beautiful sense of normalcy'. FIFA boss Joseph Blatter said almost every day that the party atmosphere, true to the World Cup motto 'a time to make friends', was a major factor in the tournament being 'the best ever World Cup'.
For some, Germany not winning the title is an important part of the positive World Cup image as well.
'The plug was pulled at the right time - before the Germans really go crazy, but after they got back their self-confidence,' said Swiss daily Blick.
© 2006 DPA | 
