The World Cup in Qatar – a German perspective
70% in Germany do not want to watch World Cup games live on TV – at least according to a survey by Spiegel, a German news magazine, with more than 5,000 people participating.
Everybody can agree that this year’s World Cup in Qatar is going to be a special one – not necessarily in a positive aspect. Many people are still not in the mood for the tournament or even want to boycott it in regard to the human rights issues in the hosting country.
The German international team has been in the pool for favourites in international tournaments for a while with the big success in 2014 when “Die Mannschaft” won the title in Brazil. I talked to German football fans: a Frauen Bundesliga player, a football coach, an NCAA player, and a team captain.
Additionally, I will give my opinion as a German sports journalist at the end of this article.
Boycotting Qatar, but not football
“The World Cup is very controversial, and I have been thinking about how to deal with an event that does not respect human rights, the environment and equal rights”, Marlene Fries, a NCAA player currently studying in the USA, explains the dilemma. “Nevertheless, I will watch the games because it’s all about the sport.”
However, Evelyn Maß, captain of a Tier 4 German women’s football team perceives the World Cup differently from past ones. She does not experience the usual “World-Cup-feeling” for this year’s tournament. “I don’t think that a lot of the other games will be watched consciously like usually during a World Cup,” she adds.
Emelie Bernhardt, Frauen Bundesliga payer for Werder Bremen, does not plan to watch any games. She especially misses the atmosphere of a World Cup normally held in summer: “The time before Christmas doesn’t suit the World Cup atmosphere.”
Boycotting the World Cup is out of the question for Angelo Carillo, football coach from Munich: “As a human being, I am definitely boycotting the country of Qatar. But for me as a passionate footballer, the World Cup is the biggest and most important football event.”
He sees it as the duty of the participants – politicians, the media and the associations – to stand up for human rights. “In principle, I think it’s very good that the World Cup is taking place in an Arab country. The way it came about is not right.”
“Awarding the tournament to Qatar is destroying football”
“As a big football fan, it is almost impossible to boycott the games”, Maß thinks. “You would also be the very last instance that could have an influence, and only a small one at that.” In her opinion, the people who voted for Qatar should be answering questions and not the football players and nations.
“I think the DFB [German Football Association] has also kept a low profile regarding the Euros 2024 in Germany, because a possible boycott by the national team could push FIFA to the point of having the Euros 2024 held elsewhere.”
In Bernhardt’s opinion awarding the tournament to Qatar “is destroying football. In recent years, the sport has been instrumentalised bit by bit, which goes against the actual meaning that it is about sporting performance and the event.” This puts the players in a difficult situation: “I feel sorry for [them] because they have spent years preparing for a World Cup and now find themselves in extremely political debates.”
Brazil are the favourites
All those surveyed agree on one aspect: Brazil is the biggest favourite to win the World Cup. “Neymar has been in top form for this World Cup”, explains Angelo Carillo. “Unlike Messi, he can lead an entire team, or an entire country as seen at the 2014 World Cup. The individual class of his teammates is also very high.” He further predicts a final matchup between Brazil and France.
The expectations for the German team are not too high. Most of the people asked think the team can make it to the quarter-final, maybe even the semi-final, but it probably won’t go much further. “I fear that Hansi Flick’s style of play is too offensive and too susceptible to counterattacks”, Carillo analyses further. The first match is extremely important for the German team’s tournament performance.”
Fries is a little more hopeful: “The German chances of winning the title are higher than at the last World Cup. Anything is possible. But it won’t be easy.” Berhardt beleives the team has a chance of reaching the semi-finals: “Germany is a tournament team that often can’t match its performance in the run-up to the tournament. That’s why I rate the semi-final chances very highly.”
Maß’s expectation from the German squad is that they come together as a united team and present that to the outside world “as the German national women’s team did during the European championships and inspired everyone with their games.”
How far can Germany go?
I personally thought a lot about if I should cover the tournament or if I should watch any games. The thought of boycotting also came to mind – but what impact would that actually have. In the end, I am a sports journalist who is a big football fan and player.
I made a deal with myself that as long as I critically report about the World Cup, that is fine by me.
After all, it is the job of a journalist to cover news, even when it gets uncomfortable.
As for the German team, I have high hopes but still see no realistic chance for them winning the title. While we especially have a strong midfield, our defence lacks in depth and experience. Nico Schlotterbeck will be playing his first World Cup and Niklas Süle is known for temporary concentration lapses. Mats Hummels, who played at the last tournament, is not in the squad.
My prediction for the German team is that they will make it to the quarterfinals after getting second place in the group behind Spain.
As a football romantic I would like Argentina to win the World Cup. It is highly likely Lionel Messi’s last chance to win a World Cup.
This would ultimately consolidate his status as one of the greatest footballers of all time.
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